News Posts List

The American Turkish Society
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-583-7614 Fax: 212-583-7615
www.americanturkishsociety.org

Contact: Selen Ucak, Tel. 212-583-7614

New York, January 14, 2010--In an insightful address presented as part of The American Turkish Society’s “Meet the Ambassadors Series” on Monday, Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, current U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, discussed the latest developments in U.S.-Turkey relations, in particular in the context of President Barack Obama’s visit to Turkey last April during his first bilateral overseas trip, which followed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit earlier in the year, and, most recently, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with President Obama in Washington last month.

Addressing an audience consisting of members of the Turkish and American diplomatic and business communities, and representatives of academic and international organizations, Ambassador Jeffrey reviewed key issues in U.S.-Turkish relations and Turkey’s role in regional and global affairs. 

Describing U.S.-Turkish relations as a model partnership in exporting security and stability to the world, Ambassador Jeffrey mentioned Afghanistan and Pakistan; Iran; Iraq; the Middle East peace process; and the fight against terrorism as major areas of cooperation. He also discussed the support of the United States to Turkey’s normalizing relations with Armenia, its European Union membership process, and Cyprus talks. In addition to cooperation on foreign policy issues, Ambassador Jeffrey also referred tothe strong economic relations between the United States and Turkey and the desire to expand them further. He also underlined the crucial role of educational and cultural programs in bringing the two countries even closer.

Ambassador Jeffreyhas been serving as the United States Ambassador to Turkey since November 2008. A career member of the Foreign Service, he previously served on detail to the National Security Council as the Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor. Prior to this, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the Department of State where he led the Bureau’s Iran Policy Team and coordinated Bureau public diplomacy and internal management. Ambassador Jeffrey served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State for Iraq from August 2005 to August 2006; U.S. Charge d’affairs to Iraq from March 2005 to June 2005; Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad from June 2004 through March 2005; and Ambassador to Albania from October 2002 to May 2004. Earlier in his Foreign Service career, Ambassador Jeffrey was Deputy Chief of Mission in Turkey and Kuwait. Other assignments have included Deputy Special Representative for Bosnian Implementation, postings in the Department’s European Bureau, and overseas service in Bulgaria, Germany and Tunisia. Ambassador Jeffrey received his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and his master’s degree from Boston University. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany and Vietnam from 1969 to 1976.

Founded in 1949, The American Turkish Society 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. Its “Meet the Ambassadors” program has hosted numerous U.S. and Turkish Ambassadors over the years. In addition, The Society initiates and sponsors a variety of educational and cultural exchange opportunities between the two countries. The American Turkish Society is a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization.