With a delegation of 17, representing 13 member corporations and business organizations, Chairman of the American-Turkish Council, Ambassador Richard L. Armitage, visited Turkey October 14 – 19 .
With a delegation of 17, representing 13 member corporations and business organizations, Chairman of the American-Turkish Council, Ambassador Richard L. Armitage, visited Turkey October 14 – 19 .
ATC Vice-Chairman, Mustafa Koc, hosted the delegation at an opening dinner on Sunday, October 14 at Koc Holding’s newly renovated Divan Hotel in Taksim. On the morning of October 15, Cengiz Israfil of Fil Finance hosted the delegation for breakfast before they met with Chairman Haluk Dincer and the Board of the Turkish US Business Council (TAIK). Chairman Armitage and his delegation enjoyed a luncheon at Alarko Headquarters by Board Member, Dalia Garih. That afternoon, the delegation met with Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines’ Deputy General Manager for Investments and Technology. That evening a dinner and round-table discussion was hosted by the Florya Businessman’s Association (FIADER).
Late in the day, the delegation traveled to Gaziantep where the full program on October 16 was organized and hosted by Sanko Holding. The day began with a tour of Sanko Superfilm and Sanko Makina led by Sami Konukoglu, followed by a cultural tour of the spectacular Gaziantep Mosaic Museum, the largest mosaic museum in the world, which the delegation enjoyed immensely. Chairman Armitage spoke to students at the Gaziantep University, where he took questions from the students and, together with University Rector, Dr. Yavuz Coskun, toured the University. That evening Sanko and the Konukoglu family hosted the delegation, local business and government officials for dinner at Zirve Park Restaurant.
In Ankara on Wednesday, October 17 the Chairman and his delegation held detailed discussions with with Minister of National Defense Ismet Yilmaz; Undersecretary of Defense Industries, Dr. Murad Bayar; and Deputy Minister of Energy, Murat Mercan. President Abdullah Gul generously met with Chairman Armitage and the entire delegation at his Cankaya offices in the afternoon. U.S. Ambassador Ricciardone and Dr. Marie Riccardone hosted the delegation at their residence for an evening briefing, following which Turkish American Businessman Association (TABA) and its new Chairman, Ekim Alptekin, hosted Chairman Armitage and his delegation for a lovely dinner at Cengelhan Brasserie.
Thursday, October 18, the ATC delegation was joined at breakfast by Ilker Ayci, President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey. The Chairman and the delegation met with CHP Vice-Chairman, Amb. Faruk O. Logoglu, and then traveled to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for a briefing and tour with Managing Director, Muharrem Dortkasli, followed by lunch. Chairman Armitage, Ambassador Holmes and ATC Defense and Security Affairs Committee Chair Jerry Kaffka met with General Hulusi Akar, Vice Chief of the Turkish General Staff. Meetings with the Government of Turkey leadership wrapped up late on October 18 with an excellent briefing and discussion with Deputy Prime Minister and Economic “Czar,” Ali Babacan.
The delegation concluded its annual visit with an evening dinner hosted by ATC Board Member, Bulent Kilincarslan and Mrs. Nermin Kilincarslan of Kuanta.
A strong “thank you” goes to our Board and Golden Horn corporate members who joined the delegation, and to our generous corporate sponsors: AES, The Boeing Company, Fil Finance, GE, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, Sanko, Sikorsky, Turkish Airlines, TUSKON and Unifree-Duty Free.