U.S. ASSISTANT DEFENSE SECRETARY SAYS TURKEY'S REMARKS HAMPERED SHORT-TERM U.S. PROGRESS

WASHINGTON, D.C. (A.A) - 19.10.2010 - The U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs said on Monday that some of Turkey's remarks regarding Israel and Iran caused a political climate that made U.S. progress difficult in some significant projects in the short term.
Assistant Secretary Alexander Vershbow said the U.S. Congress assumed an important role in arms sale, and unfortunately some remarks and attitude that Turkey made and assumed last spring regarding Israel and Iran created a political climate that made U.S. progress difficult in some significant projects in the short term.
Those climates could change, Vershbow said during a panel discussion on the sidelines of American Turkish Council (ATC) meeting in Washington, D.C..
Vershbow reaffirmed the U.S. support to Turkey's fight against the terrorist organization, and said two countries had a close defense and security cooperation and would continue to do so. 
The 29th Annual Conference of the ATC on U.S.- Turkey Relations is taking place in Washington, D.C. between October 17 and 20.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Turkey's Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul were the luncheon speakers on Monday, October 18.
Throughout the two-day conference, participants will hear from such government and business leaders as Turkey's State Minister and Minister for Foreign Trade, Zafer Caglayan; U.S. National Security Advisor, General James Jones; the President and Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, Fred Hochberg; the Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dan Poneman; Turkey's Undersecretary for National Defense, Murad Bayar; TOBB President, Rifat Hisarciklioglu; and the Chairman of Koc Holding, Mustafa Koc.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy, Ali Babacan, is expected to be the opening keynote speaker for the Conference.
As one of the leading business associations in the United States, ATC is dedicated to effectively strengthening U.S.-Turkish relations through the promotion of commercial, defense, technology and cultural relations. Its diverse membership includes Fortune 500, US and Turkish companies, multinationals, nonprofit organizations and individuals with an interest in U.S.-Turkish relations. Guided by member interests, ATC strives to enhance the growing ties between the US and Turkey by initiating and facilitating efforts to increase investment and trade between the two countries.