129. Letter From Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit to President Carter1
Thank you for the letter you have kindly sent to me with Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Warren Christopher.2
I deeply appreciate the importance you attach to revitalizing and widening the relationship and co-operation between our two friendly countries and the personal interest that you have taken in the efforts for providing economic and financial help to Turkey in view of difficult problems that we have been facing for some time.
It is re-assuring to hear from you, Mr. President, that the prospect of Broad Multilateral Co-operation to help alleviate our urgent economic problems were taken up during your recent meeting, with Chancellor Schmidt, President Giscard D’Estaing and Prime Minister Callaghan.
I had an extensive and useful conversation with Mr. Christopher, covering the major issues that concern both our countries, including the necessity of increasing Military Assistance and I discussed with him the nature and dimensions of our economic problems as well as the policies we are following to deal with them. I also explained to him our relationship with the I.M.F., particularly stressing the necessity of taking into consideration the economic, social and political implications of certain measures that are recommended to us.
As I am sure you well know, Mr. President, Turkey has been passing through a critical period of her history and we attach utmost importance to surmounting the crisis of this period without any damage to our Democracy. This is important, not only because of the Turkish people’s strong and proven attachment to the democratic way [Page 402] of life and to human rights and freedom, but also because Democracy is the basic bond between Turkey and our allies and friends in the West.
I am relieved to observe that recently there has been an increasing awareness among our friends and allies of the urgency of Turkey’s economic problems and your personal interest, Mr. President, encourages me to be hopeful that this awareness may soon be translated into action in dimensions commensurate with our urgent requirements.
Allow me to take this opportunity to wish you continued success in your efforts for a stable world peace.
With high regards, I remain, Mr. President
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 19, Turkey: Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, 3/78–5/79. No classification marking. Attached but not printed is a January 19 covering letter transmitting the message from Esenbel to Vance.↩
- Christopher delivered a letter from Carter to Ecevit, in which the President informed Ecevit of the aid decision reached at the Guadeloupe Summit. During his trip to Turkey, January 10–11, Christopher presented Ecevit with a $300 million aid package. Christopher reported on his conversation with Ecevit in telegram 320 from Ankara, January 11. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P840137–2582) Christopher described the meeting as friendly and positive; he reported that Ecevit was firmly in control of the government and was committed to economic modernization, to strengthening the U.S. bilateral relationship, and to easing tensions with Greece. The text of Carter’s letter is in telegram 381 from Ankara, January 12. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790018–1114)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩