US, Turkey agree on 'common vision'

On Wednesday, Gul will meet his American counterpart Condoleezza Rice in Washington, and will sign a jointly prepared common vision document.

According to information obtained by Zaman, last minute modifications are being made to a document which promotes a joint vision and structured dialogue to improve Turkish-American relations and strategic partnership.

In the "common vision" chapter of the document, Turkey and the US agree on several points including peace, democracy, freedom, and encouraging prosperity to achieve global and regional goals.

The "structured dialogue" chapter, in addition to existing advisory mechanisms between Turkey and the US, calls for the use of four new "mutually strengthening" methods.

Some "common interest issues" Turkey and the US "guarantee" to cooperate on include: to fight terror including the Kurdistan Workers' Party and other affiliated terrorist organizations, to ensure a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus problem, to support international efforts in Iran, to encourage democracy and stability in Iraq, the Black Sea, Caucasus, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, to support international initiations aimed at resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, to encourage peace and stability through democracy in the Greater Middle East project, to ensure energy security, to strengthen transoceanic relations, to transform NATO, to enhance understanding between --and respect for-- religions and cultures.

The document lists the issues as economic and commercial relations, investments, defense military cooperation, and public diplomacy that call for "special emphasis" in the negotiations between the two countries.

The "structured dialogue" chapter reiterates various negotiation channels on different levels available to Turkey and the US, and notes that it is time to develop a more planned framework to make our strategic partnership more efficient and result-oriented.

In this context, in addition to Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, Economic Cooperation and Partnership Commission, and High Level Defense Group: high-level advisers, policy planning advisers, broad based dialogue, and high level reviews are planned.

The parties agree on reviews by foreign affairs undersecretaries at least once a year, and "periodic contact" between foreign ministers.

Dialogue and exchange programs between parliaments, non-governmental organizations, business world, media, think-tanks, academicians, and students will be encouraged.

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