US envoy: We believe in Turkey’s future with the EU

ANKARA

Francis Ricciardone, the US Ambassador to Turkey, and Turkey's EU Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu hold a meeting in Ankara. AA photo

Francis Ricciardone, the United States Ambassador to Turkey has pledged Washington’s belief in Turkey’s future with the European Union during a courtesy visit to the new EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Ricciardone congratulated the new minister and wished for success in his new position. 

“We believe in Turkey’s future with the EU,” Ricciardone told reporters before the meeting with Çavuşoğlu on Jan. 17. Expressing Washington’s optimism with regard to Turkey’s EU membership, Ricciardone recalled that the U.S. has long been supporting Turkey’s bid to join Brussels and that it will continue. 

Çavuşoğlu, for his part, said the meeting had no specific agenda and was merely a courtesy visit, but recalled that Washington was not only Ankara’s important ally and partner, but also an advocate of Turkish accession to the EU. “We want to thank to the U.S. and our friends in the U.S. on behalf of the ambassador. We have no doubt that the U.S. will continue to support to Turkey and Turkey’s integration with Europe,” he said. 

The new minister said the EU and U.S. were in talks for a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and cooperation between Turkey and the U.S. on this issue was also underway.