US Senate confirms John Bass as ambassador to Turkey

Hurriyet Daily News The U.S. Senate has finally confirmed John Bass as the ambassador to Ankara. Bass, who was nominated in June but had his nomination held up by the Senate until after the August recess, was approved Sept. 17 by a vote of 98 – 0. Read more from Hurriyet Daily News here.

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Turkey, US pledge joint struggle against terror

US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Çankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara, Sept. 12. (AA Photo) U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks in Ankara on Sept. 12 to shape the strategy in the fight against jihadists in Iraq and Syria, as Turkey reiterated its readiness for “merely humanitarian assistance” in the region, instead of getting involved in combat operations. Read more coverage from Hurriyet Daily News here.

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U.S. Secretary of Defense in Turkey, meeting on ISIL

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, left, met Monday with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey, to gauge Turkey’s willingness to participate in an American-led coalition against the militant group ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. (Reuters) The Obama administration on Monday began the work of trying to determine exactly what roles the members of its fledgling coalition of countries to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria will play, with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel huddled with the leaders of the one country the…

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