Other countries mentioned were Mexico, Brazil, Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia. At a multifold crossroads between East and West, North and South, Christendom and Islam, Turkey has the potential to influence countries thousands of miles from the Bosphorus. Cyprus, Greece, Syria and the water issue are also mentioned as external problems Turkey is facing. Given Turkey's importance for the U.S., Kennedy criticized the dismal amount of foreign assistance given to Turkey.
Turkey uses the loan in question to buy military equipment from U.S. companies.
Thus the money goes back into the pockets of U.S. firms. The free trade agreements will be signed with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Morocco, Tunisia as well as Israel, the Anatolia news agency said on Friday. Foreign Trade Undersecretariat officials said that the talks with Israel will restart on Jan. 25-27. The officials also stated that the free trade agreement with Israel would take effect from the second half of 1996. The talks with the Czech Republic and Slovakia are expected to start by the end of this month.