Turkey-US Business Council urges dialogue, diplomacy between US, Turkey
ISTANBUL
The Turkey-US Business Council (TAİK) urged dialogue and called on Turkey and the United States to return to the negotiation table in a letter on Aug. 14.
“We believe, all the current problems can be solved through diplomacy based on mutual respect for each side’s rights and interests, and by the help of the two Presidents [Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Donald Trump] exerting their authority. In this regard, as TAİK, we believe that the business community should take on more responsibility,” the Council said in the letter signed by the Chairman Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ.
Here is the full text of the letter:
“Our friendship should not be sacrificed to emotions. All should return to the negotiating table without further ado.
We are in a new and important stage at the dispute between Turkey and the United States. As a result, the long friendship and strategic partnership between Turkey and the United States could be dealt a heavy blow.
We believe the relations that were based on the friendship and partnership our countries have cultivated over the years do not deserve to be at this level.
We are truly saddened to see the tensions escalating with reciprocal statements on sanctions.
On the other hand, we welcome the continuation of diplomatic discussions in this delicate period.
Provided that both sides return to the table, we believe there are no problems that cannot be resolved between two amicable countries that believe in democracy and the rule of law.
We believe, all the current problems can be solved through diplomacy based on mutual respect for each side’s rights and interests, and by the help of the two Presidents exerting their authority.
In this regard, as TAİK, we believe that the business community should take on more responsibility.
Turkey was not built with the help of the US, and it will not disappear without it. However, we believe both Turkey and the United States will protect their interests much better by strengthening their rapport with NATO and EU, as much as with each other.
In addition, we want to underline that Turkey’s recent close contact with Russia and China is not an alternative to its relations with the United States, NATO or the EU, but rather can be supplementary and enhancing, if the existing alliances are reinforced.
In this regard, we want to reiterate our sincere belief that only the two Presidents can put this relationship back on track and once again invite the Presidents to exert their authority and work on current problems through diplomatic channels and through mutual respect and dialogue rather than threats and sanctions.
Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ
Chairman
Turkey-U.S. Business Council (TAİK)"
