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SENATE HEARING FOR NEW US AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA SPARKS 'AUTHORITARIANISM' DEBATE
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 16 2014
Tolga TanıÅ~_
John Bass, who has been nominated by the Obama administration as
new U.S. ambassador to Ankara, has said Turkey is "drifting in the
direction" of authoritarianism, following persistent questions at a
Senate hearing.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the nomination
of Bass to the position of ambassador to Turkey on July 15, along
with the hearing on Jane Hartley to be ambassador to France; James
Pettit to be ambassador to Moldova; and Brent Robert Hartley to be
ambassador to Slovenia.
During his testimony, Bass read a written statement. "I pledge to work
with all of you to protect and advance our interests by promoting
security, prosperity, democracy and human rights - both in Turkey
and in the many places beyond its borders where we work together,"
said the former ambassador to Georgia and a special assistant to U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry.
"On this year's Remembrance Day, Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip]
Erdogan expressed his condolences to the grandchildren of those
Armenians killed during World War I. That gesture and other positive
efforts by the Turkish government in recent months indicate that the
space for dialogue is opening. But more can be done, and we encourage
both sides to pursue a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the
facts surrounding the tragic events of 1915," he also told members
of the committee.
Bass also touched on questions of Turkey's alleged authoritarianism.
"If confirmed, I will urge Turkey to live up to all universal
democratic principles, enshrined in its own foundational documents
and international commitments that undergird true national strength,"
he said.
He also referred to the ongoing hostage crisis in the northern Iraqi
city of Mosul. "[The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] ISIL's
gains in Iraq pose significant dangers for regional and international
security, as the group's seizure of Turkish citizens and diplomats
demonstrates, we continue to urge their immediate release," he said,
adding that the U.S. is "working with the Turkish government to
mitigate the risk posed by violent extremists and foreign fighters
exploiting Turkey's geography ... If confirmed, I will work closely
with Turkey and other regional partners to stem the flow of fighters,
money and expertise to and from Syria."
Unlike former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Francis Ricciardone's
confirmation hearing four years ago, no one at the question and answer
session asked Bass about the 1915 event. Instead, senators focused
more on the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and asked Bass
what his position would be in the event of an "independent Kurdistan,"
to which Bass replied that the U.S. and Turkey were "working closely
for the unity and stability of Iraq."
When Senator John McCain started to ask questions, the hearing's
mild tone suddenly changed, with McCain asking about allegations of
authoritarianism about the governing style of Turkish Prime Minister
Erdogan.
"Are you concerned about Prime Minister Erdogan's desire to change
the Constitution and other actions that we have seen on the part of
Erdogan as a drift towards the authoritarianism?" McCain asked.
"The prime minister is the leader of the democratically elected
parliamentary democracy. We'll obviously look closely at whatever
steps he takes," said Bass.
McCain replied by asking whether the Turkish government's "suppression
of social media, YouTube and Twitter and restrictions on the freedom
of the media" represented a drift toward the authoritarianism,"
adding that Bass was "jeopardizing his nomination" by not giving a
clear answer to a question.
"It is a pretty simple straight forward question ... Do you believe
that the oppression of social media, the desire to change the
Constitution to be a more powerful president, which he obviously will
be, is a drift towards authoritarianism?" McCain asked.
When Bass again tried to refrain from giving an answer, McCain replied
sharply. "Mr. Chairman, I am not going to support this nomination,
and I will hold it until I get a straight answer. I think it is
a fairly straightforward question Mr. Bass. Is it a drift towards
authoritarianism?" he said.
"It is a drift in that direction, yes," Bass replied.
"Thank you. It took 3 minutes and 25 seconds," McCain said in response.
Ricciardone's tenure in Turkey ended this month, and Bass needs the
Senate's approval to be appointed to the Turkey post.
Bass served as U.S. ambassador to Tbilisi from 2009 to 2012. He also
led the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team from 2008-2009. From
2005 to 2008, he served as director of the State Department Operations
Center. During his tenure there, Bass led the response to over 25
crises, including coordinating international assistance in response
to Hurricane Katrina and orchestrating the largest U.S. government
evacuation of American citizens in 60 years.
July/16/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/senate-hearing-for-new-us-ambassador-to-ankara-sparks-authoritarianism-debate.aspx?pageID=238&nID=69183&NewsCatID=358
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
July 16 2014
Tolga TanıÅ~_
John Bass, who has been nominated by the Obama administration as
new U.S. ambassador to Ankara, has said Turkey is "drifting in the
direction" of authoritarianism, following persistent questions at a
Senate hearing.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the nomination
of Bass to the position of ambassador to Turkey on July 15, along
with the hearing on Jane Hartley to be ambassador to France; James
Pettit to be ambassador to Moldova; and Brent Robert Hartley to be
ambassador to Slovenia.
During his testimony, Bass read a written statement. "I pledge to work
with all of you to protect and advance our interests by promoting
security, prosperity, democracy and human rights - both in Turkey
and in the many places beyond its borders where we work together,"
said the former ambassador to Georgia and a special assistant to U.S.
Secretary of State John Kerry.
"On this year's Remembrance Day, Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip]
Erdogan expressed his condolences to the grandchildren of those
Armenians killed during World War I. That gesture and other positive
efforts by the Turkish government in recent months indicate that the
space for dialogue is opening. But more can be done, and we encourage
both sides to pursue a full, frank and just acknowledgement of the
facts surrounding the tragic events of 1915," he also told members
of the committee.
Bass also touched on questions of Turkey's alleged authoritarianism.
"If confirmed, I will urge Turkey to live up to all universal
democratic principles, enshrined in its own foundational documents
and international commitments that undergird true national strength,"
he said.
He also referred to the ongoing hostage crisis in the northern Iraqi
city of Mosul. "[The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] ISIL's
gains in Iraq pose significant dangers for regional and international
security, as the group's seizure of Turkish citizens and diplomats
demonstrates, we continue to urge their immediate release," he said,
adding that the U.S. is "working with the Turkish government to
mitigate the risk posed by violent extremists and foreign fighters
exploiting Turkey's geography ... If confirmed, I will work closely
with Turkey and other regional partners to stem the flow of fighters,
money and expertise to and from Syria."
Unlike former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Francis Ricciardone's
confirmation hearing four years ago, no one at the question and answer
session asked Bass about the 1915 event. Instead, senators focused
more on the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and asked Bass
what his position would be in the event of an "independent Kurdistan,"
to which Bass replied that the U.S. and Turkey were "working closely
for the unity and stability of Iraq."
When Senator John McCain started to ask questions, the hearing's
mild tone suddenly changed, with McCain asking about allegations of
authoritarianism about the governing style of Turkish Prime Minister
Erdogan.
"Are you concerned about Prime Minister Erdogan's desire to change
the Constitution and other actions that we have seen on the part of
Erdogan as a drift towards the authoritarianism?" McCain asked.
"The prime minister is the leader of the democratically elected
parliamentary democracy. We'll obviously look closely at whatever
steps he takes," said Bass.
McCain replied by asking whether the Turkish government's "suppression
of social media, YouTube and Twitter and restrictions on the freedom
of the media" represented a drift toward the authoritarianism,"
adding that Bass was "jeopardizing his nomination" by not giving a
clear answer to a question.
"It is a pretty simple straight forward question ... Do you believe
that the oppression of social media, the desire to change the
Constitution to be a more powerful president, which he obviously will
be, is a drift towards authoritarianism?" McCain asked.
When Bass again tried to refrain from giving an answer, McCain replied
sharply. "Mr. Chairman, I am not going to support this nomination,
and I will hold it until I get a straight answer. I think it is
a fairly straightforward question Mr. Bass. Is it a drift towards
authoritarianism?" he said.
"It is a drift in that direction, yes," Bass replied.
"Thank you. It took 3 minutes and 25 seconds," McCain said in response.
Ricciardone's tenure in Turkey ended this month, and Bass needs the
Senate's approval to be appointed to the Turkey post.
Bass served as U.S. ambassador to Tbilisi from 2009 to 2012. He also
led the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team from 2008-2009. From
2005 to 2008, he served as director of the State Department Operations
Center. During his tenure there, Bass led the response to over 25
crises, including coordinating international assistance in response
to Hurricane Katrina and orchestrating the largest U.S. government
evacuation of American citizens in 60 years.
July/16/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/senate-hearing-for-new-us-ambassador-to-ankara-sparks-authoritarianism-debate.aspx?pageID=238&nID=69183&NewsCatID=358