At the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praises NATO enlargement despite controversy. (0:20)

 

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At the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that Turkey’s democracy and economy have modernized, and that the U.S. supports Turkey’s candidacy for the European Union because “it will be good for Turkey, and it will be good for Europe.” (0:20)

 

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At the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that even though they may have their occasional differences, the two governments are united by democratic principles of tolerance and human rights. (0:21)

 

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Today Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed an audience at the American Turkish Council’s 27th Annual Conference on U.S.-Turkish relations, expressing a desire for cooperation between the two governments. Rice assured her audience that the U.S. is developing a strategy to suppress the guerrilla organization PKK, or Kurdistan Worker’s Party. Rice also mentioned Turkey’s strategic location for oil transfer and the importance of investing in renewable energy, and said that the U.S. continues to support Turkey’s candidacy for membership in the European Union. Stressing the importance of an open democratic government and society, Rice said that the U.S. also supports amending Article 301 of the Turkish penal code that condemns criticism of the government.

When asked by an audience member about her perception of the recent NATO summit at Bucharest that she attended, Rice said that it was a great success with real conversation and progress and demonstrated that the Taliban in Afghanistan fears NATO. She also applauded the admission of new members despite controversy over enlargement of the treaty.

During an impassioned speech by Mohamed A. Yahya, Founder and Executive Director of DAMANGA, students at American University participated in the “die-in,” where they lay on the ground to symbolize the dead in Darfur. (more…)

At the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Budget for Fiscal Year 2009 Hearing, Representative Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), said there are many developments in the present that were of concern. At the top of the list, she said, is the “accelerating spread of the capacity to make nuclear weapons.” She said the threat to the world’s security is obvious, and said the nuclear fuel in a reactor can be used in “dirty bombs.” (more…)