US State Department blasts Rick Perry's 'Islamic terrorist' remarks
Baku, January 18 (AZERTAC). Both the U.S. State Department and the government of Turkey have registered their dismay with Rick Perry, who claimed at Monday night’s GOP presidential debate in South Carolina that the Middle Eastern nation and longtime NATO ally was run by "Islamic terrorists."
In responding to a question from Fox News’ Bret Baier, the Texas governor, who has struggled with foreign policy while on the campaign trail, suggested that all U.S. foreign aid to Turkey should be cut off, that the nation should be kicked out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and, for good measure, seemed to lump it with Iran and Syria as an existential threat to the United States.
State Department spokesman Mark Toner was asked at his daily briefing about whether the U.S. considered the Turkish government to be populated by “Islamic terrorists.”
“We absolutely and fundamentally disagree with that assertion. You know, Turkey, as I said, is a strong partner in the region. We’ve seen it make a very courageous stand against what’s going on in Syria, for example. It continues to play a very positive and constructive role in the region. And it is often cited - an example of a so-called Islamic democracy in action,” Toner said.
“Turkey is one of the oldest members of NATO and it’s been a stalwart member of NATO and a strong ally to the United States. And, you know, we stand by our relationship,” Toner said.
Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, Namig Tan, released a statement expressing his disappointment with Perry’s criticism, which he termed “misplaced” and “ill-advised.”
“Needless to say, the Turkey described in the debate simply does not exist,” Tan said. “Turkey is a secular democracy that has for decades been an essential and trusted partner of the U.S. Our bilateral relations are based on the common values of democracy and respect for human rights, rule of law, and free market economy. Whether in the fight against terrorism or violent extremism, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria or against the proliferation of [weapons of mass destruction] we stand side by side to tackle the many common threats and challenges of our times. Through NATO and bilaterally, Turkey and the U.S. will continue to cooperate day in, day out to establish peace, security and prosperity around the world.”
And in a clear shot at Perry, Tan wrote that Turkey’s economy doesn’t need aid from the United States and in fact has helped create “thousands of jobs” in Perry’s home state of Texas through trade.
Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and was elected to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council in 2008. The two countries have been partners in the war in Afghanistan.
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