The US Ambassador to Ankara, Robert Pearson said, “The past was left in history and now we should continue to work together. This is very important for us.” Comparing the relations between Turkey and the USA to a ship, Mr. Pearson said that the ship has passed through a storm… Mr. Pearson, who will return to his country on completing his three-year term of office in Turkey in July, participated in the farewell reception and lunch organized in his honor by Turkish-American Businessmen Association (TABA). 

The reception held at the Hilton Hotel was attended by State Minister Abdüllatif Şener, Minister of Internal Affairs Abdülkadir Aksu, State Minister Güldal Akşit, Deputy Chairman of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Bülent Tanla, Chairman of Motherland Party (ANAP) Ali Talip Özdemir, Deputy Chairman of the True Path Party (DYP) Mehmet Ali Bayar, as well as several Members of the Parliament and businessmen. 

In his speech he delivered before the lunch, the Ambassador Pearson said he believed that the relations between Turkey and the United States would accelerate and reach their previous level rapidly. Saying that, “I will be your good friend in the USA”, Pearson added that removal of the embargo on Iraq was an opportunity for Turkey…

Generally preferring to speak in English, Pearson had a deep conversation with State Minister Şener in Turkish. Hearing Pearson’s fluent Turkish, the members of the press asked, “Why do you speak in English when it comes to political issues?”. The Ambassador replied smiling, “I don’t talk political issues in any language.” Pearson, who replied a guest that said, “You are a good friend of Turkey, we know it” with the Turkish word “Estagfirullah” (meaning “You are too kind!”), stated that he would maintain his friendship…