December 3, Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL), Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX), and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans, issued the following statement welcoming Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to theUnited States. The Caucus Statement reaffirms the strategic partnership between theUnited States and Turkey and praises the government of Turkey for its leadership role in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Co-Chairs also express their strong support for the Turkish government’s historic effort to normalize relations with Armenia. Prime Minister Erdogan is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama in Washington, DC on December 7, 2009.
Statement of the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on
U.S.-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009
As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans (Turkey Caucus) we want to welcome Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the United States. We believe the Prime Minister’s visit reaffirms the longstanding strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, and is a unique opportunity to enhance and foster economic, political, and security relations.
As many of our Congressional colleagues know, our NATO ally Turkey valiantly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States and European partners throughout the Cold War. Over the past twenty years, Turkey has been integral to American and NATO efforts in the Balkans and has worked to enhance peace and stability in Central Asia and the Middle East. Turkey has also played a critical leadership role along withAmerica and the international community in both Afghanistan and Iraq. We are hopeful that the Turkey will continue to play a leading role alongside the United States, P5+1 partners and the international community with respect to Iran’s nuclear program.
We also want to highlight and praise the historic steps recently taken by Prime Minister Erdogan and his government to normalize Turkey’s relations with its neighborArmenia. With the support of the United States, both countries on October 10, 2009 signed two protocols to achieve this goal. We believe that, with the continuing support of the United States and the international community, these protocols will provide a new impetus for the solution of other conflicts in the South Caucasus region.
Many of our colleagues appreciate the growing importance of our strategic relationship with Turkey which was described by President Obama during his visit to Turkey in April as a “Model Partnership.” We are heartened by the fact that the Turkey Caucus, which began over eight years ago, now numbers one hundred members.
The growth of the Turkey Caucus is a testament to the importance that members of Congress place on U.S.-Turkish relations and a recognition of the longstanding partnership between our two nations. Again, we welcome Prime Minister Erdogan toWashington, and believe that his discussions with President Obama and the Administration will only serve to strengthen the U.S.-Turkish partnership as we face difficult global challenges.
ROBERT WEXLER
Member of Congress
ED WHITFIELD
Member of Congress
KAY GRANGER
Member of Congress
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Membership List - Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans
Rep. Wexler, Robert (co-chair)
Rep. Whitfield, Ed (co-chair)
Rep. Granger, Kay (co-chair)
Rep. Aderholt, Robert
Rep. Alexander, Rodney
Rep. Bachus, Spencer
Rep. Baird, Brian
Rep. Barrett, Gresham
Rep. Bartlett, Roscoe
Rep. Barton, Joe
Rep. Berman, Howard
Rep. Berry, Marion
Rep. Boozman, John
Rep. Boustany, Charles
Rep. Burton, Dan
Rep. Butterfield, G.K.
Rep. Carnahan, Russ
Rep. Carney, Christopher
Rep. Carson, Andre
Rep. Cassidy, Bill
Rep. Chandler, Ben
Rep. Coble, Howard
Rep. Coffman, Mike
Rep. Cohen, Steve
Rep. Cole, Tom
Rep. Cueller, Henry
Rep. Culberson, John Abney
Rep. Davis, Danny
Rep. Davis, Geoff
Rep. Davis, Lincoln
Rep. Delahunt, William
Rep. Dicks, Norm
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd
Rep. Ellison, Keith
Rep. Ellsworth, Brad
Rep. Etheridge, Bob
Rep. Faleomavaega, Eni
Rep. Foxx, Virginia
Rep. Green, Gene
Rep. Hastings, Alcee
Rep. Hensarling, Jeb
Rep. Herger, Wally
Rep. Himes, James
Rep. Holt, Rush
Rep. Jackson, Jesse Jr.
Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice
Rep. Johnson, Hank
Rep. Johnson, Tim
Rep. Jones, Walter
Rep. Kilpatrick, Carolyn
Rep. Kissell, Larry
Rep. Latta, Robert
Rep. Lewis, John
Rep. McCollum, Betty
Rep. McMahon, Michael
Rep. Meeks, Gregory
Rep. Miller, Brad
Rep. Moore, Dennis
Rep. Moran, Jim
Rep. Murphy, Christopher
Rep. Murtha, John
Rep. Nye, Glenn
Rep. Olson, Pete
Rep. Ortiz, Solomon
Rep. Pascrell, Bill
Rep. Pence, Mike
Rep. Pierluisi, Pedro
Rep. Pitts, Joe
Rep. Platts, Todd
Rep. Polis, Jared
Rep. Pomeroy, Earl
Rep. Price, David
Rep. Putnam, Adam
Rep. Rahall, Nick
Rep. Rehberg, Denny
Rep. Reyes, Silvestre
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana
Rep. Ross, Mike
Rep. Ruppersberger, Dutch
Rep. Scalise, Steve
Rep. Schmidt, Jean
Rep. Scott, David
Rep. Sessions, Pete
Rep. Shadegg, John
Rep. Shuler, Heath
Rep. Shuster, Bill
Rep. Simpson, Mike
Rep. Skelton, Ike
Rep. Smith, Adam
Rep. Snyder, Vic
Rep. Stearns, Cliff
Rep. Tanner, John
Rep. Taylor, Gene
Rep. Terry, Lee
Rep. Thompson, Bennie
Rep. Thompson, Glenn
Rep. Waxman, Henry
Rep. Wilson, Joe
Rep. Wittman, Rob
