Edelman: Misguided Ideas And Voices Against Turkish - American Relations Should Be Countered

ISTANBUL (AA) - US Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said on Thursday that ''misguided ideas, such as the public calls for boycotts of US companies, and voices raised against Turkish-American relations should be countered and contradicted when they raise their ugly heads, because they can do real and lasting harm.''
     Addressing a conference on Turkish-American relations at Bogazici University upon the 20th anniversary of Turkish-American Business Council, Edelman said that ''the US and Turkey have not been fully successful in meeting our shared goal--that of raising the US-Turkey economic relationship to the level of political and security relationship.''
     Reminding the recent visit of US Congressmen to Northern Cyprus, Edelman said, ''as you all know, the Congressmen recently returned from a visit to northern Cyprus. The Administration of President Bush shares their commitment to ending the isolation of the people of northern Cyprus.''
     ''The last five-year economic figures showed that there was no progress in US-Turkey economic relations'', said Edelman, adding that the direct investment of American companies in Turkey was not high enough.
     Edelman said, ''this is not criticism, but a call to further action. Americans and Turks need to double and redouble our efforts to build our economic relationship, because we are losing ground. The business community needs to take a leadership role.''
    
     (AY)
2005-06-02