Tweet
Times.am, Armenia
Aug 14 2010
U.S. revises relations with Turkey
By Times.am at 14 August, 2010, 9:20 pm
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton convened a special meeting of
State Department and National Security Council officials to discuss
the United States' relations with Turkey in the backdrop of the
Ankara-Jerusalem crisis and following Turkey's decision to vote
against tougher sanctions on Iran in the Security Council.
The aim of the meeting was to reevaluate US policy towards Turkey.
State officials stressed that the meeting was the first in a series of
important discussions on the matter.
US senior officials are infuriated with Turkey over its Iran
endorsement, a sentiment demonstrated by Republican senators' refusal
to approve the appointment of designated US ambassador to Ankara,
Frank Ricciardone. While the objection is based on character issues,
the US administration is certain that a senate vote on the appointment
will prompt a public debate on US-Turkey relations and raise
opposition from both the democratic and republican ends of the
political spectrum.
Republic Senator Sam Brownback has filed a motion to halt the
appointment and according to one report is also preparing a paper for
Clinton explaining his opposition. Many other senators may follow
suit.
The official reasoning is that Ricciardone is the wrong man for the
job under the current climate. The opposers claim that during his
years in service in Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq Ricciardone
emerged as particularly sympathetic to the countries in which he was
stationed and less eager to promote American democratic and human
rights values.
According to Ynetnews, Ricciardone's supporters regard him as a
competent professional with 34 years of experience in foreign service.
Nevertheless, his personal capabilities would not have been on the
agenda had US-Turkey relations not been in such a serious crisis.
From: A. Papazian
Aug 14 2010
U.S. revises relations with Turkey
By Times.am at 14 August, 2010, 9:20 pm
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton convened a special meeting of
State Department and National Security Council officials to discuss
the United States' relations with Turkey in the backdrop of the
Ankara-Jerusalem crisis and following Turkey's decision to vote
against tougher sanctions on Iran in the Security Council.
The aim of the meeting was to reevaluate US policy towards Turkey.
State officials stressed that the meeting was the first in a series of
important discussions on the matter.
US senior officials are infuriated with Turkey over its Iran
endorsement, a sentiment demonstrated by Republican senators' refusal
to approve the appointment of designated US ambassador to Ankara,
Frank Ricciardone. While the objection is based on character issues,
the US administration is certain that a senate vote on the appointment
will prompt a public debate on US-Turkey relations and raise
opposition from both the democratic and republican ends of the
political spectrum.
Republic Senator Sam Brownback has filed a motion to halt the
appointment and according to one report is also preparing a paper for
Clinton explaining his opposition. Many other senators may follow
suit.
The official reasoning is that Ricciardone is the wrong man for the
job under the current climate. The opposers claim that during his
years in service in Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan and Iraq Ricciardone
emerged as particularly sympathetic to the countries in which he was
stationed and less eager to promote American democratic and human
rights values.
According to Ynetnews, Ricciardone's supporters regard him as a
competent professional with 34 years of experience in foreign service.
Nevertheless, his personal capabilities would not have been on the
agenda had US-Turkey relations not been in such a serious crisis.
From: A. Papazian