Istanbul mayor Topbas invites US senator Pelosi to Turkey

Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas said yesterday that he invited US House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a strong supporter of Armenian Genocide Resolution, to Istanbul to reaffirm the strong ties between the two countries. Speaking at the 3rd Turkic-American Convention, organized by Turkic-American Association and TUSKON, which hosted over 700 participants along with Pelosi, Topbas said that he invited Pelosi to Istanbul, adding that she agreed and asked to be accepted as a friend of Turks. Underlining that such dialogues are crucial for local diplomacy, Topbas pointed out that the world was closely following Turkey. Topbas also briefed the audience about his recent contacts in Washington. Amid his tight schedule in Washington, Topbas said he has met Republican US presidential candidate Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan. "Turks here are quite successful in lobbying. I noticed that a great many senators and legislators frequently visit Istanbul and Turkey," said Topbas, stressing that their admiration for Turkey stems from this successful lobbying.