American-Turkish Council (ATC) Golden Horn members met Wednesday, February 23, with Jess L. Baily, Director, Office of Southern European Affairs for the State Department for a broad-ranging discussion on U.S. – Turkey relations.
Mr. Baily, who will be transferred this summer to Ankara, where he will be the Deputy Chief of Mission, briefed the group on the continued importance of the relationship, including such matters as Iraq, Iran, Pakistan/Afghanistan, Middle East, and the popular uprisings in a member of the Arab states. Turkey’s value as a partner, he said, could be seen in the number of telephone conversations in recent days between President Obama and Prime Minister Erdogan. Baily drew attention to the upcoming meeting of the Economic Partnership Commission and underlined that business will have a key role in expanding and strengthening our bi-lateral ties.
Ambassador James H. Holmes, President and CEO of ATC, thanked Mr. Baily for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit ATC and brief our members. Such off – the – record discussions as these are very beneficial to our members, he said.