ATC head: "Ankara should be careful not to break away from the west"

Ankara's desire to expand its vision and relations is understandable, but some of the regional ties it has made in recent years might end up damaging its Western alliances, warned James Holmes, head of American-Turkish Council, over the weekend. Speaking to Turkish daily Cumhuriyet, Holmes, a retired ambassador, also weighed in on Turkey's efforts to boost its influence and mediate in the Middle East. Turkey should be able to establish dialogue not only with Damascus, Palestine, and Hamas, but also with Tel Aviv, he said.