TURKEY’S ERDOGAN MEETS US AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA

Jan 3 2009
Turkey

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has received
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara James Jeffrey.

Jeffrey told reporters after the one-hour meeting that they had
exchanged views on some global and regional issues concerning both
countries such as Iran, Iraq, energy safety and the Middle East
peace process.

The ambassador "described Turkey and the United States as two powerful
democratic and allied countries, and expressed his belief that he
would work in cooperation" with the Turkish government during his
tenure in Ankara.

Asked about a possible visit by U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East
George Mitchell to Ankara, Jeffrey told reporters that the special
envoy could visit the region once again, adding that he, but, did
not have any clear information at the time being.

When asked about "concerns" that the Jewish lobby in the United
States could not extend support to Turkey in case of debates at the
Senate on Armenian resolution in April after the reaction of the
Turkish prime minister during a panel discussion in Davos, Jeffrey
said that although problems might emerge from time to time, Turkey
and the United States had "always been working together."