TURKEY AND SYRIA; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 181

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TURKEY AND SYRIA

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, now on another matter, today President

Trump will host the leader of Turkey at the White House. Although I

have expressed concerns about granting President Erdogan such an honor

in light of his recent actions, I hope the meeting produces better

behavior from this important NATO ally.

We recognize Turkey's legitimate national security concerns about the

destabilizing conflict in Syria. Indeed, no NATO ally has suffered more

terrorist attacks or hosts more refugees than Turkey. Nevertheless, we

have legitimate national security concerns of our own, and I know the

vast majority of my colleagues share my concerns about Turkey's recent

behavior.

It is important for the region and the fight against ISIS that

Turkey's incursion into Syria not further jeopardize the anti-terrorism

campaign of the Syrian Democratic Forces. It is important for Turkey's

80 million people that Turkey's Government moves to restore its

democratic traditions--freedom of the press, religious freedom, respect

for secularism and ethnic minorities, and a robust space for civil

society. Despite the optimism from the

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Obama administration and others that Turkey, under President Erdogan,

would be a model democracy, in practice, these important values have

suffered under his tenure.

As the Turkish people's concern continues growing, it is troubling

that the political space for them to express those concerns has seemed

to shrink further. At the same time, the United States must recognize

that the path to addressing our concerns involves working with this

important NATO ally and aligning its interests with ours.

Turning a cold shoulder altogether would be a major strategic misstep

and would jeopardize our national security and our interests. We do not

need Turkey to fall further into Moscow's orbit. I know my colleagues

are looking to see whether a deal can be reached on the S-400 air

defense system.

I share my colleagues' uneasiness at seeing President Erdogan honored

down at the White House, but I urge this body to remain clear-eyed

about our Nation's vital interests in the Middle East and the fact that

advancing them will mean strengthening our relationship with this NATO

ally, not weakening it further.

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