Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on President Bush's Meeting With President Turgut Ozal of Turkey

The President met for approximately 30 minutes in the Oval Office with President Turgut Ozal of Turkey. The meeting was followed by a working lunch in the Residence.

The two Presidents discussed a wide range of issues, including changes in the Soviet Union, the negotiations at Vienna on conventional force reductions, and NATO's vital role in a changing Europe. They engaged in detailed discussions of the situation in the Middle East and the sweeping changes in Eastern Europe, with special reference to the Balkans.

President Bush and President Ozal agreed to continue their pattern of close consultations and stressed the importance of U.S.-Turkish security cooperation at this time of rapid change in Europe and in East-West relations. The two Presidents also discussed Cyprus at some length and reaffirmed their support for U.N.-sponsored negotiations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.