ID :
171631
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 16:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/171631
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Turkey's main opposition party officials in Washington
WASHINGTON (A.A) - 29.03.2011 - Officials from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) held a series of talks at the U.S. Congress and Department of State on the first day of their visit to the U.S. capital of Washington.
CHP's deputy chairmen Osman Koruturk, Gulsun Bilgehan, Umut Oran and Faik Oztrak, accompanied by CHP chairperson's adviser Faruk Logoglu, began their talks in the U.S. on Monday.
As part of their visit, CHP members got together with senior officials Tina Kaidanow and Nancy McEldowney from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. State Department, as well as Republican Senator from Arizona John McCain and American-Turkish Council's (ATC) President James Holmes.
Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Koruturk said they had as usual expected questions about Armenian allegations, Cyprus, Turkish-Greek relations and regional developments during their talks, however, U.S. officials were rather curious about the restrictions against freedom of press in Turkey.
"We have seen that the most striking opinion about Turkey was the perception that the country's democracy was going backwards," Koruturk said.
The deputy chairperson said CHP delegation also got the impression that U.S. officials thought Turkey was not displaying the exact leadership role expected from it concerning the social movements in the Middle East.
Koruturk also noted that U.S. officials showed a great interest in CHP's new structure.
He said all their U.S. counterparts welcomed CHP's outgoing stance and improving its contacts and position in international relations.
CHP deputy chairperson has said that CHP was known wrong abroad.
CHP's deputy chairman for foreign policy Osman Koruturk delivered a speech at the Washington Institute on Monday and said, "CHP is known wrong abroad. It is considered as if it was close to contacts with other countries and it was against NATO and the United States. It is not right. We are open. CHP is a social democrat party. We also define ourselves 'new CHP' since change in the party administration."
Koruturk said that they wanted a new and modern partnership and boost economic ties with the United States.
CHP was eager to restore democracy and re-establish good relations with Turkey's neighbors, he said.
Replying to a question, Koruturk said that the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has been pursuing an active foreign policy interfering in some international issues, but its policy could not yield any solution. "CHP will pursue a result-oriented and a realistic foreign policy, if it comes to the political power," he said.
Earlier CHP's deputy chairpersons Osman Koruturk, Gulsun Bilgehan, Umut Oran and Faik Oztrak, accompanied by CHP chairperson's adviser Faruk Logoglu, held a series of talks at the U.S. Congress and Department of State on the first day of their visit to Washington.
CHP's deputy chairmen Osman Koruturk, Gulsun Bilgehan, Umut Oran and Faik Oztrak, accompanied by CHP chairperson's adviser Faruk Logoglu, began their talks in the U.S. on Monday.
As part of their visit, CHP members got together with senior officials Tina Kaidanow and Nancy McEldowney from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. State Department, as well as Republican Senator from Arizona John McCain and American-Turkish Council's (ATC) President James Holmes.
Speaking to reporters after the meetings, Koruturk said they had as usual expected questions about Armenian allegations, Cyprus, Turkish-Greek relations and regional developments during their talks, however, U.S. officials were rather curious about the restrictions against freedom of press in Turkey.
"We have seen that the most striking opinion about Turkey was the perception that the country's democracy was going backwards," Koruturk said.
The deputy chairperson said CHP delegation also got the impression that U.S. officials thought Turkey was not displaying the exact leadership role expected from it concerning the social movements in the Middle East.
Koruturk also noted that U.S. officials showed a great interest in CHP's new structure.
He said all their U.S. counterparts welcomed CHP's outgoing stance and improving its contacts and position in international relations.
CHP deputy chairperson has said that CHP was known wrong abroad.
CHP's deputy chairman for foreign policy Osman Koruturk delivered a speech at the Washington Institute on Monday and said, "CHP is known wrong abroad. It is considered as if it was close to contacts with other countries and it was against NATO and the United States. It is not right. We are open. CHP is a social democrat party. We also define ourselves 'new CHP' since change in the party administration."
Koruturk said that they wanted a new and modern partnership and boost economic ties with the United States.
CHP was eager to restore democracy and re-establish good relations with Turkey's neighbors, he said.
Replying to a question, Koruturk said that the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has been pursuing an active foreign policy interfering in some international issues, but its policy could not yield any solution. "CHP will pursue a result-oriented and a realistic foreign policy, if it comes to the political power," he said.
Earlier CHP's deputy chairpersons Osman Koruturk, Gulsun Bilgehan, Umut Oran and Faik Oztrak, accompanied by CHP chairperson's adviser Faruk Logoglu, held a series of talks at the U.S. Congress and Department of State on the first day of their visit to Washington.
