Embassy attack has drawn US, Turkey closer: Envoy

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone. AA photo

The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) failed in its aims in attacking the U.S. Embassy in Ankara on Feb. 1, the U.S. envoy said today, underlining Washington’s appreciation of Turks’ sympathy in the aftermath of the assault.

“There is an … effect drawing us closer together in a common mission of upholding the international rule of law while strengthening our collaboration that we have and really bringing our people together at all levels, including the sentimental one, so that our friendship grows deeper,” Francis Ricciardone said at an international conference on “Obama’s Second Term: Realism, Change & Continuity in Turkey-U.S.
Relations” organized by the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization (USAK).

Specific operational ways of cooperation between the United States and Turkey, which are both “states of democracy,” have already been strong, Ricciardone said, highlighting the significance of bilateral cooperation for strengthening the rule of law against terrorism and in the fields of intelligence, law enforcement, diplomacy, the military and cross-border relations.

DHKP/C member Ecevit Şanlı killed himself and security guard Mustafa Akarsu in a suicide attack at the U.S. mission Feb. 1.