Turkey calls for closer U.S. economic ties

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Turkey's economic ties to the United States need to be as strong as military relations between the two countries, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.

"We did not come to the U.S. for money," Erodgan said at a press conference shortly after his meeting with President George W. Bush. "We have not asked for money. We only asked that we be provided the opportunity for business investments," he added.

Turkey's economy took a nose dive early last year as the country floated its currency, and has subsequently had to resort to applying for financial aid from the International Monetary Fund and other agencies to keep its head above water. But over the past year, Turkey has steadily turned its finances around, as it followed the stringent IMF conditions of slashing spending and keeping inflation under control.

The health of Turkey's economy has been of major concern to the Bush administration since the Sept. 11 attacks, given that Turkey is the only Muslim country in the NATO alliance and borders Iraq.

But U.S. officials in particular have been concerned that since Erdogan's party won the majority of votes in the November elections, Turkey would be less likely to support U.S. efforts to attack Saddam Hussein's regime.

Indeed, the Islamic-based party has already voiced opposition to a war against Iraq, which would make it more difficult for U.S. troops to launch military operations from the country.

Meanwhile, U.S. media have largely been critical of Erdogan's victory, given his party's religious roots, arguing that it could jeopardize Turkey's position as a role model for a democratic and secular Muslim nation.

But Turkish officials accompanying Erdogan on his Washington visit made clear that the Bush administration was fully supportive of Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, as the Turkish leader heads directly to Copenhagen later Tuesday evening. Erdogan will be taking part in the EU's summit meeting that kicks off Thursday in the Danish capital, where he will try to convince EU leaders to consider setting a timeline to formally discuss the prospect of Turkey joining the group.

But while the United States is in full favor of Turkey joining the EU, France in particular has made clear that the country's membership into the union would not be appropriate. One Turkish source said that at the bilateral meeting, Bush promised to call key European leaders to voice his support for Turkey's membership before the summit meeting.

"We need and desire to upgrade economic relations. ... We need to upgrade economic relations to match that with military relations," said Robert Wexler, D-Fla., following the House Turkish caucus's meeting with Erdogan.

But the Turkish leader himself declined to comment on how he expects negotiations for Turkey joining the EU were likely to go.