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SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING; NOMINATION; TESTIMONY BY FRANCIS RICCIARDONE, MA
Congressional Documents and Publications
August 2, 2011
I am honored to appear before you today as President Obama's nominee
to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, having served in
that capacity as a recess appointee since January 20, 2011. I am
grateful to President Obama and Secretary Clinton for their trust and
confidence in me. With me today is my wife Marie, who both studied
and taught in Turkish universities. During my 33-year career in the
Foreign Service, I have had the pleasure of having previously served
three times in Turkey, most recently as the Deputy Chief of Mission
and Charge d'Affaires from 1995 to 1999. Through more than three
decades I have observed Turkey's continuing transformation into a more
democratic, more open, and more economically vibrant, modern state
and a player with growing influence on the world stage. If confirmed,
I look forward to continuing to work with you and your colleagues,
as well as with the many private American organizations with a strong
interest in Turkey and throughout the region, to advance United States
interests in this critically important and complex relationship.
Turkey remains as ever a key ally and strategic partner of the United
States and an important member of the NATO alliance. It is also a
member of the G-20 with one of the fastest growing economies in the
world. Noting Turkey's history as a majority Muslim nation and as
a secular democratic state that respects the rule of law, President
Obama has cited Turkey's "critical role in helping to shape mutual
understanding and stability not only in its neighborhood, but around
the world." If confirmed, I will continue to do everything possible to
reinforce Turkish-American cooperation in support of our common goals.
For decades, Turkey and the United States have cooperated intensively
to promote regional stability, including by countering terrorism and
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; resolving regional
conflicts; promoting energy security; expanding trade, investment,
and economic development; and, essential and integral to all of these,
strengthening democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Several
such strategic priorities merge in cases of particularly immediate
consequence, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, the quest for peace
between Israel and all its neighbors, and Iran's evident pursuit of
nuclear weapons. Other conflicts with historical antecedents require no
less sustained and intensive joint attention and cooperation, including
the unresolved issues of Cyprus and normalization of relations with
Armenia. I have been privileged to serve in Ankara during the "Arab
Spring," during which I have strived to enlist Turkish support for the
NATO role in Libya, for a successful transition to democracy in Egypt,
and pressure on the regime in Syria to cease its brutal repression
and to heed the will of its people.
Just as the Turkish Government has played an important role in
promoting these political transitions, the Turkish Government and
private sector are keen to support economic development in Egypt and
Tunisia that are so critical to long-term stability in the region,
by increasing their trade and investment in these countries. Wherever
possible, they are looking for partnerships with U.S. companies.
Let me describe Turkey's role in relation to our foreign policy
priorities. If confirmed, my continued responsibility will be to
strengthen Turkey's cooperation with us in all of these areas, as a
key bilateral partner and also as an essential NATO ally.
U.S.-Turkey cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan has been robust and
critical to our success. Turkey shares our vision of a stable Iraq and
actively helps the Iraqi people develop a sovereign state that is at
peace with itself and its neighbors. This requires progress in Iraq's
security, political, and economic infrastructure, and in each of these
areas Turkey has been an essential partner for our mission. Turkey's
high-level strategic dialogue with the Government of Iraq and its
outreach to the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government have contributed to
the stability of Iraq. Turkey also is contributing to Iraq's progress
by hosting regional meetings on political and economic cooperation,
and through trade and investment that promote Iraq's reconstruction
and help develop Iraq's oil and electricity infrastructure.
Additionally, Turkey is a crucial logistics hub, supporting U.S.
forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 70 percent of the air cargo
for our mission in Iraq transits Incirlik Air Base, which is also the
primary refueling stop for flights to Afghanistan. Turkey provides
blanket clearance for U.S. aircraft supporting these operations and
authorizes the use of its bases and ports to support humanitarian and
reconstruction operations in Iraq, as well as the retrograde of U.S.
forces from Iraq over the course of 2011. The Habur Gate border
crossing serves as a key line of communication to Iraq; through it,
25 percent of our fuel and 40 percent of other sustainment requirements
enter Iraq. There are more than 1,700 U.S. military personnel stationed
in Turkey. Turkey has a long tradition of hospitality to our service
men and women, including hosting the USS Eisenhower in January.
Turkey is one of our strongest partners in the fight against
international terrorism. Turkey and the United States are working
together to fight the regional transit and support of international
terrorists, and last month arrested an alleged al-Qaeda cell plotting
to bomb western interests in Turkey, including the U.S. Embassy. I
have urged the Turkish Government and Parliament to pass stronger
legislation against terrorist financing, and hope the Parliament will
pass the Government's bill when it reconvenes this autumn.
We support Turkey's foremost security objective of defeating the
terrorist violence which the PKK continues to perpetrate, which has
led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turks since the 1980s. We support
Turkey's operations against the PKK; we cooperate with EU partners
to cut off PKK facilitation efforts in Europe; and we support the
growing cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan
Regional Government, against the PKK elements that find refuge in
Iraq. We are in consultations with Turkey to step up law enforcement
cooperation against terrorism. Turkey's leaders also recognize the need
for political, economic and cultural measures to counter PKK terrorism.
Turkey's "National Unity Project" or "Democratic Opening" aims to
improve the human rights and economic situation for Kurds and other
communities of vulnerable groups in Turkey. We believe that further
pursuit of this initiative can help not only to undermine the terrorism
still conducted by the PKK, but it will also advance and strengthen
Turkish democracy and the human rights of all Turks. A record number
of Kurds were elected as independents to Parliament in June and we
commend their professed commitment to participation in a non-violent,
lawful political process to secure the full rights of all Turkey's
Kurds as Turkish citizens.
>>From my current service in Ankara as well as my tenure as
Deputy Ambassador in Kabul, I can attest that Turkey has also been
an essential partner in Afghanistan, where it has long-standing
cultural and historical ties and has been a leading proponent of
Afghanistan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Turkey
shares our goal of a stable Afghanistan that can protect itself from
al-Qaeda and any other terrorists who would use that country as a
base for international terrorist attacks. Turkey has some 1,600 troops
serving in the International Security Assistance Force, commands the
Regional Command for Kabul, and this year has sent still more civilian
humanitarian relief and development assistance experts to establish
its second Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Jowzjan Province.
It is also a leader on training the Afghan National Security Forces.
Turkey has pledged to train a brigade's worth of Afghan National
Army troops. Just last week, I was proud to participate in the
opening of Turkey's special training center in Sivas for the Afghan
National Police. Turkey has also pledged $300 million for development
projects in Afghanistan, built schools and clinics, and invested in
the repair or construction of bridges and roads and the drilling of
new wells, as well as facilitated economic development through support
to the agriculture, marble and carpet sectors. In addition to our
cooperation with Turkey through NATO/ISAF and our two Embassies on the
ground in Kabul, we see Turkey undertaking an influential and highly
positive role in rallying international support for Afghanistan's
economic development, and in fostering political reconciliation of
its violent conflict with the Taliban. In support of cooperation
between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey has hosted trilateral
summits in Turkey with the participation of both the Afghan and
Pakistani presidents, and later this year will host another summit
of Afghanistan and its neighbors.
Turkey and Israel are both important partners of the United States.
The two countries have shared vital political, economic, security,
and military ties for many years. The strains in their relations since
the May 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, risk setting back the vitally
important interests of both those countries, and of the United States,
in regional peace and stability. Therefore we have underscored to both
countries the importance to them, to us, and their region of repairing
their mutually beneficial relationship. Secretary Clinton continues
to urge both sides to find a way to put the flotilla incident behind
them, and we hope that efforts toward this goal over the past year
will soon meet with success.
On Iran, we work closely with Turkey on a range of the challenges we
face with Iran. Turkey shares a long border and history with Iran.
Turkey has said that it shares the international community's
concerns about the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, and repeatedly
has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding UN Security Council
resolutions in this regard. But we have not always agreed on tactics
regarding Iran, particularly with regard to sanctions. Turkey shared
our disappointment that Iran failed to engage meaningfully in the
talks hosted by Turkey in Istanbul last January between Iran and
the UN Security Council's permanent five members plus Germany. If
confirmed as Ambassador, I will continue to urge Turkey to persuade
Iran to engage directly and seriously with the IAEA and P5+1 on the
international community's concerns about its nuclear program. On
sanctions, we continue to urge Turkey to fully enforce UN sanctions,
which Turkey has publicly pledged to implement. We also are engaging
vigorously with Turkey to ensure that the CISADA (Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act) sanctions are fully
respected and to educate Turkish entities of the consequences should
Iranian companies attempt sanctioned transactions via Turkey.
The United States continues its long-standing support for Turkey's
aspirations to join the European Union. The prospect of EU accession
has been a strong impetus for Turkish reform. Over the past few years,
Turkey has implemented meaningful political and economic reforms
necessary for EU membership, but more needs to be done. Turkish
citizens themselves are demanding further progress on promoting
human rights and the rule of law, including freedom of the media and
religious freedom. They seek, for example, the rights of minority
religious institutions freely to own their property and operate their
institutions. There could be no more powerful modern testimony to
Turkey's historic legacy of religious tolerance than reopening the
Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki Seminary. Just this past month, I was
privileged to join Secretary Clinton in advocating for the reopening of
Halki Seminary and protecting the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
during her recent visit to Istanbul, and I will continue my advocacy
until this is addressed. If confirmed, I look forward to celebrating
the re-opening of Halki Seminary with His All Holiness Bartholomew,
and the leaders of the Government of Turkey (including the democratic
opposition) who, I dare hope, will show the courage and foresight
needed to redress a historical wrong.
The division of Cyprus has gone on far too long. The United States
encourages the negotiations between the two communities under the
auspices of the UN Secretary General, and we urge the leaders of the
two communities to seize the moment to negotiate a settlement that
reunifies the island into a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Turkey and
Greece can play a constructive role in helping the Cypriot parties
toward a lasting solution to their differences, and we continue to
urge them to do so.
Facilitating regional integration is a high priority for the United
States. Rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia will foster increased
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region. We commended
the governments of Turkey and Armenia on signing the historic protocols
on normalization of relations on October 10, 2009 in Zurich.
During her visit last month, Secretary Clinton again urged Turkey
to ratify the protocols, and we will continue to support programs
that build understanding between Turks and Armenians. Last year,
the Government of Turkey permitted Armenians to celebrate religious
services at the ancient Akhtemar Church in Lake Van, for the first time
in decades. I was glad to see increasing numbers of private Turkish
citizens turn out this past spring in five cities across Turkey to
protest the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink,
and to call for justice against the perpetrators. Last week, the
courts convicted and sentenced the murderer to 22 years in prison,
and we understand that official investigations, urged by President
Gul himself, continue into the conspiracy that reportedly supported
the heinous assassination.
The President and Secretary Clinton have established economic
cooperation with Turkey as a strategic priority, and have emphasized
the importance of supporting American firms and promoting U.S.
-Turkish trade and investment. During President Obama's April 2009
meeting with Turkish President Gul, the two leaders agreed to elevate
our economic relations to the level of our already strong political
and military relations. To follow through on this commitment, the U.S.
and Turkey launched a Cabinet-level dialogue - the Framework
for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation - during Prime
Minister Erdogan's visit to Washington in December 2009. In addition
to our official dialogues, we have launched a public-private
sector U.S.-Turkey Business Council to advise the U.S. and Turkish
governments on strategies for increasing trade and relationships,
improving the business climate, and eliminating impediments to trade
and investment. Turkey is a leading focus in the President's New
Export Initiative to double U.S. exports globally in five years.
Turkey's economic role has only grown in importance since 2009,
as its booming economy is increasingly important to the global
economy and to propelling regional growth. Turkey has set an
ambitious goal of becoming a top ten economy by 2023, which will
triple the size of the economy and create more opportunities for
U.S. firms. The Turkish Government and private business associations
enthusiastically have supported our Global Entrepreneurship Program,
and our "Partnership for a New Beginning," both intended to foster
a culture of entrepreneurship, especially among the young.
Building on our close cooperation in the 1990s that helped make
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) a reality, the U.S. and Turkey are working
together to bring Caspian gas to European markets for the first time
through a new route called the "Southern Corridor." We welcomed the
June 2010 agreement signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan on the gas purchase
and transit of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey as an important milestone in
laying the foundation for the Southern Corridor. The corridor would
provide commercial benefit for the countries of the Caucasus and
Central Asia and also create a long-term partnership based on mutual
interests with Europe. Overseeing the safe passage of oil through the
Bosporus Straits and the transport of oil through the BTC pipeline,
which pumps nearly a million barrels of oil a day to the Turkish port
of Ceyhan, Turkey plays an important role in world energy markets.
Many Americans, including my family and I, have had wonderful
experiences living and working in Turkey. It has been a special
privilege to return to Ankara over these past six months to strengthen
the communications and friendship between our two peoples in all fields
of private as well as official endeavors, including the fields of
education, science, and health - in which my wife has practiced while
on previous service in Turkey. Led by this committee, the Senate has
formally recognized the importance of public diplomacy. Increasing
contacts and communications between Americans and Turks must be a
primary means of advancing our interests on all issues we face today.
If confirmed, I pledge that all members of U.S. Mission Turkey will
continue warmly to welcome the advice and support of the American
people, both through our elected representatives and through direct
and continuous contact and communication. In particular, I would
pledge the highest standards of service to the American community
and American travelers, whether for business or for the private
advocacy of the cause of freedom and human rights supported by our
Administration and our Congress.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, if confirmed to continue my
service as Ambassador, in my service in Ankara as in my past service
at other posts, I will trust to your support and advice, and that of
your colleagues.
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you today. I
look forward to your questions.
Read this original document at:
http://foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Ricciardone_Testimony2.pdf
From: A. Papazian
Congressional Documents and Publications
August 2, 2011
I am honored to appear before you today as President Obama's nominee
to serve as Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, having served in
that capacity as a recess appointee since January 20, 2011. I am
grateful to President Obama and Secretary Clinton for their trust and
confidence in me. With me today is my wife Marie, who both studied
and taught in Turkish universities. During my 33-year career in the
Foreign Service, I have had the pleasure of having previously served
three times in Turkey, most recently as the Deputy Chief of Mission
and Charge d'Affaires from 1995 to 1999. Through more than three
decades I have observed Turkey's continuing transformation into a more
democratic, more open, and more economically vibrant, modern state
and a player with growing influence on the world stage. If confirmed,
I look forward to continuing to work with you and your colleagues,
as well as with the many private American organizations with a strong
interest in Turkey and throughout the region, to advance United States
interests in this critically important and complex relationship.
Turkey remains as ever a key ally and strategic partner of the United
States and an important member of the NATO alliance. It is also a
member of the G-20 with one of the fastest growing economies in the
world. Noting Turkey's history as a majority Muslim nation and as
a secular democratic state that respects the rule of law, President
Obama has cited Turkey's "critical role in helping to shape mutual
understanding and stability not only in its neighborhood, but around
the world." If confirmed, I will continue to do everything possible to
reinforce Turkish-American cooperation in support of our common goals.
For decades, Turkey and the United States have cooperated intensively
to promote regional stability, including by countering terrorism and
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; resolving regional
conflicts; promoting energy security; expanding trade, investment,
and economic development; and, essential and integral to all of these,
strengthening democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Several
such strategic priorities merge in cases of particularly immediate
consequence, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, the quest for peace
between Israel and all its neighbors, and Iran's evident pursuit of
nuclear weapons. Other conflicts with historical antecedents require no
less sustained and intensive joint attention and cooperation, including
the unresolved issues of Cyprus and normalization of relations with
Armenia. I have been privileged to serve in Ankara during the "Arab
Spring," during which I have strived to enlist Turkish support for the
NATO role in Libya, for a successful transition to democracy in Egypt,
and pressure on the regime in Syria to cease its brutal repression
and to heed the will of its people.
Just as the Turkish Government has played an important role in
promoting these political transitions, the Turkish Government and
private sector are keen to support economic development in Egypt and
Tunisia that are so critical to long-term stability in the region,
by increasing their trade and investment in these countries. Wherever
possible, they are looking for partnerships with U.S. companies.
Let me describe Turkey's role in relation to our foreign policy
priorities. If confirmed, my continued responsibility will be to
strengthen Turkey's cooperation with us in all of these areas, as a
key bilateral partner and also as an essential NATO ally.
U.S.-Turkey cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan has been robust and
critical to our success. Turkey shares our vision of a stable Iraq and
actively helps the Iraqi people develop a sovereign state that is at
peace with itself and its neighbors. This requires progress in Iraq's
security, political, and economic infrastructure, and in each of these
areas Turkey has been an essential partner for our mission. Turkey's
high-level strategic dialogue with the Government of Iraq and its
outreach to the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government have contributed to
the stability of Iraq. Turkey also is contributing to Iraq's progress
by hosting regional meetings on political and economic cooperation,
and through trade and investment that promote Iraq's reconstruction
and help develop Iraq's oil and electricity infrastructure.
Additionally, Turkey is a crucial logistics hub, supporting U.S.
forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 70 percent of the air cargo
for our mission in Iraq transits Incirlik Air Base, which is also the
primary refueling stop for flights to Afghanistan. Turkey provides
blanket clearance for U.S. aircraft supporting these operations and
authorizes the use of its bases and ports to support humanitarian and
reconstruction operations in Iraq, as well as the retrograde of U.S.
forces from Iraq over the course of 2011. The Habur Gate border
crossing serves as a key line of communication to Iraq; through it,
25 percent of our fuel and 40 percent of other sustainment requirements
enter Iraq. There are more than 1,700 U.S. military personnel stationed
in Turkey. Turkey has a long tradition of hospitality to our service
men and women, including hosting the USS Eisenhower in January.
Turkey is one of our strongest partners in the fight against
international terrorism. Turkey and the United States are working
together to fight the regional transit and support of international
terrorists, and last month arrested an alleged al-Qaeda cell plotting
to bomb western interests in Turkey, including the U.S. Embassy. I
have urged the Turkish Government and Parliament to pass stronger
legislation against terrorist financing, and hope the Parliament will
pass the Government's bill when it reconvenes this autumn.
We support Turkey's foremost security objective of defeating the
terrorist violence which the PKK continues to perpetrate, which has
led to the deaths of over 30,000 Turks since the 1980s. We support
Turkey's operations against the PKK; we cooperate with EU partners
to cut off PKK facilitation efforts in Europe; and we support the
growing cooperation between Turkey and Iraq, including the Kurdistan
Regional Government, against the PKK elements that find refuge in
Iraq. We are in consultations with Turkey to step up law enforcement
cooperation against terrorism. Turkey's leaders also recognize the need
for political, economic and cultural measures to counter PKK terrorism.
Turkey's "National Unity Project" or "Democratic Opening" aims to
improve the human rights and economic situation for Kurds and other
communities of vulnerable groups in Turkey. We believe that further
pursuit of this initiative can help not only to undermine the terrorism
still conducted by the PKK, but it will also advance and strengthen
Turkish democracy and the human rights of all Turks. A record number
of Kurds were elected as independents to Parliament in June and we
commend their professed commitment to participation in a non-violent,
lawful political process to secure the full rights of all Turkey's
Kurds as Turkish citizens.
>>From my current service in Ankara as well as my tenure as
Deputy Ambassador in Kabul, I can attest that Turkey has also been
an essential partner in Afghanistan, where it has long-standing
cultural and historical ties and has been a leading proponent of
Afghanistan's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Turkey
shares our goal of a stable Afghanistan that can protect itself from
al-Qaeda and any other terrorists who would use that country as a
base for international terrorist attacks. Turkey has some 1,600 troops
serving in the International Security Assistance Force, commands the
Regional Command for Kabul, and this year has sent still more civilian
humanitarian relief and development assistance experts to establish
its second Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Jowzjan Province.
It is also a leader on training the Afghan National Security Forces.
Turkey has pledged to train a brigade's worth of Afghan National
Army troops. Just last week, I was proud to participate in the
opening of Turkey's special training center in Sivas for the Afghan
National Police. Turkey has also pledged $300 million for development
projects in Afghanistan, built schools and clinics, and invested in
the repair or construction of bridges and roads and the drilling of
new wells, as well as facilitated economic development through support
to the agriculture, marble and carpet sectors. In addition to our
cooperation with Turkey through NATO/ISAF and our two Embassies on the
ground in Kabul, we see Turkey undertaking an influential and highly
positive role in rallying international support for Afghanistan's
economic development, and in fostering political reconciliation of
its violent conflict with the Taliban. In support of cooperation
between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Turkey has hosted trilateral
summits in Turkey with the participation of both the Afghan and
Pakistani presidents, and later this year will host another summit
of Afghanistan and its neighbors.
Turkey and Israel are both important partners of the United States.
The two countries have shared vital political, economic, security,
and military ties for many years. The strains in their relations since
the May 2010 Gaza flotilla incident, risk setting back the vitally
important interests of both those countries, and of the United States,
in regional peace and stability. Therefore we have underscored to both
countries the importance to them, to us, and their region of repairing
their mutually beneficial relationship. Secretary Clinton continues
to urge both sides to find a way to put the flotilla incident behind
them, and we hope that efforts toward this goal over the past year
will soon meet with success.
On Iran, we work closely with Turkey on a range of the challenges we
face with Iran. Turkey shares a long border and history with Iran.
Turkey has said that it shares the international community's
concerns about the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran, and repeatedly
has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding UN Security Council
resolutions in this regard. But we have not always agreed on tactics
regarding Iran, particularly with regard to sanctions. Turkey shared
our disappointment that Iran failed to engage meaningfully in the
talks hosted by Turkey in Istanbul last January between Iran and
the UN Security Council's permanent five members plus Germany. If
confirmed as Ambassador, I will continue to urge Turkey to persuade
Iran to engage directly and seriously with the IAEA and P5+1 on the
international community's concerns about its nuclear program. On
sanctions, we continue to urge Turkey to fully enforce UN sanctions,
which Turkey has publicly pledged to implement. We also are engaging
vigorously with Turkey to ensure that the CISADA (Comprehensive Iran
Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act) sanctions are fully
respected and to educate Turkish entities of the consequences should
Iranian companies attempt sanctioned transactions via Turkey.
The United States continues its long-standing support for Turkey's
aspirations to join the European Union. The prospect of EU accession
has been a strong impetus for Turkish reform. Over the past few years,
Turkey has implemented meaningful political and economic reforms
necessary for EU membership, but more needs to be done. Turkish
citizens themselves are demanding further progress on promoting
human rights and the rule of law, including freedom of the media and
religious freedom. They seek, for example, the rights of minority
religious institutions freely to own their property and operate their
institutions. There could be no more powerful modern testimony to
Turkey's historic legacy of religious tolerance than reopening the
Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki Seminary. Just this past month, I was
privileged to join Secretary Clinton in advocating for the reopening of
Halki Seminary and protecting the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
during her recent visit to Istanbul, and I will continue my advocacy
until this is addressed. If confirmed, I look forward to celebrating
the re-opening of Halki Seminary with His All Holiness Bartholomew,
and the leaders of the Government of Turkey (including the democratic
opposition) who, I dare hope, will show the courage and foresight
needed to redress a historical wrong.
The division of Cyprus has gone on far too long. The United States
encourages the negotiations between the two communities under the
auspices of the UN Secretary General, and we urge the leaders of the
two communities to seize the moment to negotiate a settlement that
reunifies the island into a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Turkey and
Greece can play a constructive role in helping the Cypriot parties
toward a lasting solution to their differences, and we continue to
urge them to do so.
Facilitating regional integration is a high priority for the United
States. Rapprochement between Turkey and Armenia will foster increased
stability and prosperity in the entire Caucasus region. We commended
the governments of Turkey and Armenia on signing the historic protocols
on normalization of relations on October 10, 2009 in Zurich.
During her visit last month, Secretary Clinton again urged Turkey
to ratify the protocols, and we will continue to support programs
that build understanding between Turks and Armenians. Last year,
the Government of Turkey permitted Armenians to celebrate religious
services at the ancient Akhtemar Church in Lake Van, for the first time
in decades. I was glad to see increasing numbers of private Turkish
citizens turn out this past spring in five cities across Turkey to
protest the 2007 murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink,
and to call for justice against the perpetrators. Last week, the
courts convicted and sentenced the murderer to 22 years in prison,
and we understand that official investigations, urged by President
Gul himself, continue into the conspiracy that reportedly supported
the heinous assassination.
The President and Secretary Clinton have established economic
cooperation with Turkey as a strategic priority, and have emphasized
the importance of supporting American firms and promoting U.S.
-Turkish trade and investment. During President Obama's April 2009
meeting with Turkish President Gul, the two leaders agreed to elevate
our economic relations to the level of our already strong political
and military relations. To follow through on this commitment, the U.S.
and Turkey launched a Cabinet-level dialogue - the Framework
for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation - during Prime
Minister Erdogan's visit to Washington in December 2009. In addition
to our official dialogues, we have launched a public-private
sector U.S.-Turkey Business Council to advise the U.S. and Turkish
governments on strategies for increasing trade and relationships,
improving the business climate, and eliminating impediments to trade
and investment. Turkey is a leading focus in the President's New
Export Initiative to double U.S. exports globally in five years.
Turkey's economic role has only grown in importance since 2009,
as its booming economy is increasingly important to the global
economy and to propelling regional growth. Turkey has set an
ambitious goal of becoming a top ten economy by 2023, which will
triple the size of the economy and create more opportunities for
U.S. firms. The Turkish Government and private business associations
enthusiastically have supported our Global Entrepreneurship Program,
and our "Partnership for a New Beginning," both intended to foster
a culture of entrepreneurship, especially among the young.
Building on our close cooperation in the 1990s that helped make
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) a reality, the U.S. and Turkey are working
together to bring Caspian gas to European markets for the first time
through a new route called the "Southern Corridor." We welcomed the
June 2010 agreement signed by Turkey and Azerbaijan on the gas purchase
and transit of Azerbaijani gas to Turkey as an important milestone in
laying the foundation for the Southern Corridor. The corridor would
provide commercial benefit for the countries of the Caucasus and
Central Asia and also create a long-term partnership based on mutual
interests with Europe. Overseeing the safe passage of oil through the
Bosporus Straits and the transport of oil through the BTC pipeline,
which pumps nearly a million barrels of oil a day to the Turkish port
of Ceyhan, Turkey plays an important role in world energy markets.
Many Americans, including my family and I, have had wonderful
experiences living and working in Turkey. It has been a special
privilege to return to Ankara over these past six months to strengthen
the communications and friendship between our two peoples in all fields
of private as well as official endeavors, including the fields of
education, science, and health - in which my wife has practiced while
on previous service in Turkey. Led by this committee, the Senate has
formally recognized the importance of public diplomacy. Increasing
contacts and communications between Americans and Turks must be a
primary means of advancing our interests on all issues we face today.
If confirmed, I pledge that all members of U.S. Mission Turkey will
continue warmly to welcome the advice and support of the American
people, both through our elected representatives and through direct
and continuous contact and communication. In particular, I would
pledge the highest standards of service to the American community
and American travelers, whether for business or for the private
advocacy of the cause of freedom and human rights supported by our
Administration and our Congress.
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, if confirmed to continue my
service as Ambassador, in my service in Ankara as in my past service
at other posts, I will trust to your support and advice, and that of
your colleagues.
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you today. I
look forward to your questions.
Read this original document at:
http://foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Ricciardone_Testimony2.pdf
From: A. Papazian