Upon assuming my duties as the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Washington, D.C., I would like to share my honor and pleasure in undertaking this privileged mission to enhance relations between Turkey and the United States of America, as well as between our two peoples. As much as I take pride in serving as the principal envoy of Turkey in the United States, I am also humbled by this distinction.
My previous two terms of duty representing Turkey in various capacities in the United States will, I believe, add to a thorough appreciation of my mission ahead. During my tenure now as Ambassador, I shall be determined to advance the tenets of close friendship, partnership and alliance which happily exist on a multitude of levels between our countries. Even as this alliance has long been strong and exemplary, it also holds out promising potential yet to be fully explored. I will keep this objective at the forefront of my mind with great care and dedication during my entire service here in Washington.
The privileged confidence I have been accorded by the governments of Turkey and the United States will, I trust and hope, serve as my undiminished source of resolve. And the candor and support of the Turkish and American communities at large will be my beacon in pursuit of the collective success and happiness of our two nations and peoples. Together, we have made great strides in addressing emerging challenges and opportunities, time and again.
Built on a deeply rooted history of cooperation and friendship, our countries presently enjoy a strong relationship. President Barack Obama chose Turkey for first bilateral transatlantic visit, which speaks volumes about the importance the U.S. Administration places on relations between the United States and Turkey. This visit recognized our decades-long close relationship and our mutual commitment to advancing shared goals of freedom, democracy, peace, security and prosperity worldwide. It also underscored that the U.S.-Turkish relationship is truly a “model partnership,” as it has been described by President Obama and reiterated by the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his visit to the United States in December 2009.
The U.S. and Turkey have long focused on an impeccable partnership – in large part owing to our shoulder-to-shoulder alliance in NATO for almost six decades. As we continue to work together to promote security and stability in a vast area from Europe to Asia and Africa, to earnestly counter the threat of terrorism around the globe and to address long-simmering international conflicts, the strategic dimensions of our bilateral relationship continue to be as important as ever. More than 120,000 Turks enjoy U.S. citizenship– many of them contributing to American society in prominent roles as professionals and academics. Seven hundred thousand Americans who visit Turkey each year contribute to the person-to-person dimension of our relationship on a variety of levels. It is therefore my privilege to ensure that this relationship continues on an upward trajectory.
On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in the United States, I look forward to your continued support toward this goal, and extend my best wishes for health, happiness and prosperity to the American people and the Turkish-American community.
