November 15, 1999
Web posted at: 11:58 a.m. EST (1658 GMT)

ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- U.S. President Bill Clinton began a 10-day European tour on Monday in Ankara, where he said he supports Turkey joining the European Union and praised the country's efforts at improving its human rights record.

Clinton said that, during talks with his Turkish counterpart, Suleyman Demirel, the two leaders "discussed Turkey's progress in deepening its democracy and strengthening human rights."

"There has been impressive momentum in the last few years, and I hope there will be continued progress, especially in the area of freedom of expression," said Clinton.

The European Union has long cited human rights as part of the reason it has rejected Turkey's bid for membership in the economic alliance. In a joint news conference with Clinton, Demirel responded to allegations that his government routinely tortures prisoners.

"There is torture," the president said, "but torture is not state policy. Torture is a crime, and whoever commits this crime, no matter who that person may be, that person is investigated and is penalized accordingly."

VIDEO CNN's John King reviews Clinton's busy activities at the beginning of his trip. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     MESSAGE BOARD Clinton in Europe

In pressing his support for European Union membership, Clinton called Turkey "the key to meeting all the challenges" of making a peaceful and stable Europe a reality.

Clinton touched on the human rights issue again later Monday during an address before the Turkish parliament.

"When peaceful outlets exist to express normal human differences, the peace is preserved, not shattered," he said. "When people can celebrate their culture and faith in ways that do not infringe upon the rights of others, moderates do not become extremists and extremists do not become misguided heroes."

The U.S. president also conveyed his country's sympathy for victims of the latest earthquake to jolt Turkey, announcing $1 billion in credit to help rebuild the country.

Turkey's latest quake struck on Friday, killing more than 450 people. In August, a monstrous 7.4-magnitude quake rocked the same northwestern section of the country, killing more than 17,000. Thousands of aftershocks have rattled the country since the August quake.

Clinton also commented on Turkey's ongoing conflict with Greece over the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, noting that relations between the two countries had improved since Turkey's August earthquake and one in Greece shortly afterward. The two nations sent rescue teams and aid to each other in the aftermath.

"You have improved relations between Turkey and Greece over the so-called earthquake diplomacy and interchange," he said. "I think the people of both countries and, therefore, the political leaders of both countries saw each other with fresh eyes."

Turkish troops occupied the northern third of Cyprus in 1974, responding to a coup backed by the military junta that then ruled Greece. The government of Cyprus rules the remaining two-thirds of the island.

Clinton was to attend a state dinner Monday in Ankara, where he was to be awarded with the Turkish State Medal.

On Thursday and Friday, he is to attend the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe summit in Istanbul. After two days in Ankara, he will tour areas near Istanbul hit by the recent earthquakes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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