Outgoing US Ambassasor Jeffrey pays farewell visit to Erdogan

Outgoing US Ambassador to Ankara James Jeffrey, set soon to take the reins of the US Embassy in Baghdad, yesterday paid a farewell visit to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The half-hour, closed-door meeting took place at the Prime Ministry official residence in Ankara. During the meeting, Erdogan presented Jeffrey a special glazed plate as a keepsake gift. Jeffrey yesterday also paid a farewell visit to former President Suleyman Demirel, who praised Jeffrey's performance in Turkey and wished him success at his new post. Jeffrey is set to be replaced by Francis Joseph Ricciardone, who last week told the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Turkey continues to be key ally and strategic partner of the US.