Wilson: "If Turkey and the US were driven apart, it would hurt both countries"

The Turkish American Business Association (TABA/Amcham) yesterday hosted a farewell breakfast for US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson, whose tenure in Ankara is set to end soon. Speaking at the gathering, he said, "I would like to think all of you (for) being here today in friendship towards me and toward my country because I think you, too, believe we need to think and act like the allies that we are." Touching on the upcoming Obama administration and what will happen on issues of interest to Turkey, he added, "I will tell you, just like everybody else here, I have no crystal ball. And I am no better at predicting the future, arguably worse, than a lot of you in this room. I don't know what the future holds, but I am quite sure that if the United States and Turkey are apart, it will be to the disadvantage of our countries. If we're together, we will be a force for security, prosperity and freedom. Being together… is not inevitable. It takes work, it takes dedication, it takes leadership, it takes patience and perseverance."