Gul: "The key partnership between Turkey and USA is more important than ever"

The 28th Annual Conference on US-Turkish Relations, jointly organized by the American-Turkish Council and Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board's (DEIK) Turkish-US Business Council was yesterday held in Washington. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug and Turkish Ambassador to Washington Nabi Sensoy were among who attended the meeting. Participants will discuss the issues such as business opportunities for corporations in the US, Turkey and the region, regional security issues, bilateral trade, energy security and development and developments in Science, Technology and Research. President Abdullah Gul also sent a message to the gathering, saying, "US President Barack Obama's paying his first overseas visit to Turkey is a sign that Turkey and the US have a vital partnership between them." Stating that the relation between the two countries has been strengthened in due course, he underlined that the two countries, as the representatives of the democratic and free world, stood side by side in different regions in an effort to contribute to global prosperity, peace, stability and security. "Today, the key partnership between Turkey and USA is more important than ever," Gul added. Gul said that Obama's visit also reiterated the two countries' determination to strengthen economic and commercial ties, as well as to improve bilateral investments and technological cooperation.