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.
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.
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…
White House welcomes Deputy Prime Minister Arinc’s apology to protestors
White House Spokesperson Jay Carney reiterated importance of Turkey for the U.S., welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc’s more conciliatory tone, and once again, urged all parties to refrain from violence on a press briefing on June 4. Read the full excerpt below:
A New Boost to Transatlantic Ties: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the EU-Turkey Customs Union
By: Eray Akdag / The German Marshall Fund Eray Akday is the TUSIAD Permanent Ankara Representative. The below article was published by The German Marshall Fund in their “On Turkey” series. You can find the original here. During Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent visit to the United States, the White House declared that “the United States and Turkey decided today to establish a bilateral High Level Committee led by the Ministry of Economy of Turkey and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, associated with…