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Breakfast Event on September 18 Offered Insights into Turkey 's Foreign Policy

New York, NY - September 19, 2006 - The Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Abdullah Gül, addressed a group of more than 160 diplomats, foreign policy experts, and business leaders in New York on Monday. The gathering took place at the Metropolitan Club and was co-hosted by the American Turkish Society and the National Committee on American Foreign Policy.

H.E. Gül promoted Turkey as a "success story of genuine reform" after the implementation of political, legal, and economic changes in recent years - changes that, according to Gül, have led to a stronger democracy, dramatically increased economic growth, closer ties to the United States, and great strides towards accession in the European Union.

H.E. Gül highlighted Turkey 's achievements at home, including cumulative economic growth that has been measured at nearly 40% over the past four years, and abroad, as a stable democracy that recently signed a "shared vision" plan with the United States . In other foreign policy matters H.E. emphasized Turkey 's support for the preservation of Iraq 's borders and a lasting peace in the aftermath of the recent conflict between Israel and Lebanon .

H.E. Gül's visit was the latest in the American Turkish Society's long history of providing public forums to discuss Turkish affairs. On September 12 the organization held a private meeting with the state minister in charge of foreign trade for Turkey , H.E. Kursad Tuzmen. The National Committee on American Foreign Policy holds gatherings of political leaders on a regular basis.

The National Committee on American Foreign Policy is a private, non-profit think-tank based in New York . It was founded in 1974 by Professor Hans J. Morgenthau and others and is dedicated to the resolution of conflicts that threaten U.S. interests. Toward that end, it identifies, articulates, and helps advance American foreign policy interests from a nonpartisan perspective within the framework of political realism.

The American Turkish Society, founded in 1949, is America 's oldest not-for-profit organization seeking to enhance economic, political, and cultural ties between Turkey and the United States . The Society achieves its mission by bringing together leaders in government, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of State and Ambassadors, as well as business leaders, journalists, and scholars covering a spectrum of fields. In addition, it sponsors international education programs and cultural initiatives.  

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Members of the press wishing to learn more about the American Turkish Society may contact Selen Ucak, Executive Director, at 212-583-7614. Daniel Morris, Program Director of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, may be reached at 212-224-1146.

AMERICAN TURKISH SOCIETY