Wilson: "Turks are feeling better about the US"

At the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit held by the US Embassy in Kahramanmaras, US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson yesterday said that recent opinion polls show a rising tide of sympathy and interest among Turks for the US. "The reason for this is very simple," he added. "Mostly it's related to Iraq. Over the last year-and-a-half, we've seen promising developments in Iraq. For this reason, the US' image in Turkey has started to improve." Asked about the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Wilson said, "I'm worried about its impact on Turkey's democratic institutions," and added, "I'm sure that the institutions in Turkey and its people will find a solution to these problems."