Main opposition CHP inaugurates Washington office during chair’s visit

WASHINGTON - Hürriyet

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has hosted the opening ceremony. CİHAN photo

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has inaugurated its first United States representative office in Washington during party chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s key visit to the country.

“You will see that there will be a stronger Republican People’s Party presence in the U.S. in the upcoming period,” Kılıçdaroğlu said Dec. 1 in the speech he delivered at the office’s opening reception, which has been in operation since July. 

He said he is realizing that the CHP has not been able to represent itself enough in the U.S and pledged more frequent visits.

“The new Republican Party is a party that places importance on women and children. The new Republican Party is a party that cares about reading the world. It looks like we couldn’t articulate that change. In the upcoming period more of our friends will come here and answer your questions, in an attempt to enlighten you as to what we do, how we do it, and our expectations and thoughts,” he said.

Kılıçdaroğlu’s five-day U.S. visit holds great importance for the party’s much-neglected relationship with the U.S. as it is the first visit of a CHP party leader to the U.S. in 37 years.

Responding to reporters’ questions during the reception attended by around 200 guests, Kılıçdaroğlu also said he thinks “a lack of confidence is dominating Turkey-U.S relations at present,” noting his expectation for this mistrust to be abated soon.