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US-TURKEY RELATIONS CRUCIAL FOR REGION, SAYS ENVOYS
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
March 15 2015
15 March 2015 09:21 (Last updated 15 March 2015 09:24)
Ambassadors from both countries say the relationship between the two
nations has never been more important than it is today
WASHINGTON
Turkish and American diplomats on Saturday vowed to fight international
threats together, as they spoke at the 35th Annual Convention of the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations, or ATAA, in Washington.
Ambassadors from both countries said the relationship between the
two nations has never been more important than it is today.
"There is a long list of common threats, risks and challenges that
require a strong U.S.-Turkish partnership, including the civil war and
humanitarian tragedy in Syria," said Turkey's ambassador to the U.S.,
Serdar Kilic.
The Syrian conflict is "the worst humanitarian tragedy of the 21st
century, having claimed the lives of 300,000 Syrians and left 6
million Syrians as refugees and approximately 10 million as internally
displaced persons," he added.
U.S. ambassador to Turkey John R. Bass, who addressed the convention
via video conference from Ankara, said the two countries were working
to support moderate Syrian opposition groups, including units in
Turkey, in order to help them defend their communities against Daesh
and other groups.
" Turkey now hosts more refugees from any other country," he said.
"Turkey's generosity is also sign of leadership, thanks to Turkey's
support to Syrians inTurkey."
The international community has turned a "blind eye to the Syrian
people," said Kilic. "In the streets of Syria, humanity is being
assassinated."
According to the Turkish diplomat, while Turkey hosts 2 million Syrian
refugees and has invested $6 billion in the effort, the international
community has offered just $250 million to help Turkey shoulder the
cost of hosting Syrian refugees, which Kilic said was "negligible."
He also criticized an article published Friday in the New York Times
that claimed Turkey is not doing anything to stop the flow of foreign
fighters through the country on their way to join Daesh.
"It is a shame." Kilic said. "The article is simply ignoring Turkey's
efforts."
While Turkey has a list of 10,000 individuals who could potentially
join Daesh via Turkey, other countries' intelligence services have
contributed just 18 percent to the information sharing effort, he said.
"Countries are not sharing enough information with Turkey to stop
foreign fighters. On the other hand, they are putting the blame
on Turkey. It is selective morality, and selective morality is
immorality," Kilic said.
The speakers also highlighted the Turkey Armenian issue. "Washington
supports reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, which the U.S.
believes will bring even more stability and prosperity to the region."
He added that, "with the 100th anniversary of tragic events of 1915
just a week ahead, the U.S. believes the full and frank acknowledgement
of facts will be of interest to both Turkey and Armenia as well as
to the descendants of those who are affected by the tragic events."
"I encourage more dialogue with Armenians and American Armenians can
help promote this kind of reconciliation," he said.
U.S. congressmen Brendan Boyle, who represents a large constituent
of Turkish Americans in his district in the state of Pennsylvania,
also addressed the conference.
"I am very concerned that last year there were nine resolutions that
were anti-Turkish nature in U.S. Congress. This is wrong, and counter
productive and bad for U.S.-Turkey policy," he said. "We have to reject
those who try to divide while the goal is to unite U.S. and Turkey,"
he added.
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
March 15 2015
15 March 2015 09:21 (Last updated 15 March 2015 09:24)
Ambassadors from both countries say the relationship between the two
nations has never been more important than it is today
WASHINGTON
Turkish and American diplomats on Saturday vowed to fight international
threats together, as they spoke at the 35th Annual Convention of the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations, or ATAA, in Washington.
Ambassadors from both countries said the relationship between the
two nations has never been more important than it is today.
"There is a long list of common threats, risks and challenges that
require a strong U.S.-Turkish partnership, including the civil war and
humanitarian tragedy in Syria," said Turkey's ambassador to the U.S.,
Serdar Kilic.
The Syrian conflict is "the worst humanitarian tragedy of the 21st
century, having claimed the lives of 300,000 Syrians and left 6
million Syrians as refugees and approximately 10 million as internally
displaced persons," he added.
U.S. ambassador to Turkey John R. Bass, who addressed the convention
via video conference from Ankara, said the two countries were working
to support moderate Syrian opposition groups, including units in
Turkey, in order to help them defend their communities against Daesh
and other groups.
" Turkey now hosts more refugees from any other country," he said.
"Turkey's generosity is also sign of leadership, thanks to Turkey's
support to Syrians inTurkey."
The international community has turned a "blind eye to the Syrian
people," said Kilic. "In the streets of Syria, humanity is being
assassinated."
According to the Turkish diplomat, while Turkey hosts 2 million Syrian
refugees and has invested $6 billion in the effort, the international
community has offered just $250 million to help Turkey shoulder the
cost of hosting Syrian refugees, which Kilic said was "negligible."
He also criticized an article published Friday in the New York Times
that claimed Turkey is not doing anything to stop the flow of foreign
fighters through the country on their way to join Daesh.
"It is a shame." Kilic said. "The article is simply ignoring Turkey's
efforts."
While Turkey has a list of 10,000 individuals who could potentially
join Daesh via Turkey, other countries' intelligence services have
contributed just 18 percent to the information sharing effort, he said.
"Countries are not sharing enough information with Turkey to stop
foreign fighters. On the other hand, they are putting the blame
on Turkey. It is selective morality, and selective morality is
immorality," Kilic said.
The speakers also highlighted the Turkey Armenian issue. "Washington
supports reconciliation between Armenia and Turkey, which the U.S.
believes will bring even more stability and prosperity to the region."
He added that, "with the 100th anniversary of tragic events of 1915
just a week ahead, the U.S. believes the full and frank acknowledgement
of facts will be of interest to both Turkey and Armenia as well as
to the descendants of those who are affected by the tragic events."
"I encourage more dialogue with Armenians and American Armenians can
help promote this kind of reconciliation," he said.
U.S. congressmen Brendan Boyle, who represents a large constituent
of Turkish Americans in his district in the state of Pennsylvania,
also addressed the conference.
"I am very concerned that last year there were nine resolutions that
were anti-Turkish nature in U.S. Congress. This is wrong, and counter
productive and bad for U.S.-Turkey policy," he said. "We have to reject
those who try to divide while the goal is to unite U.S. and Turkey,"
he added.