Former American President Bill Clinton comes to Istanbul this month to make a speech on "Turkey-Europe-US Relations on the Way to the European Union" under auspices of TABA, the Turkish-American Business Association, at a dinner in Qragan Palace Hotel on 9 July. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will also make a speech. During the meeting to announce Mr. Clinton's visit, Zeynel Abidin Erdem, Chairman of TABA said : "During 52 years of friendship between US and Turkey one sole American showed the biggest closeness to us. He announced to the world that PKK is a terror group, convinced Europeans that Turkey should be a candidate, despite the opposition of Baku-Ceyhan pipeline he caused the agreement was signed during Habitat Summit in Istanbul, he gave big support during the earthquake and he is the statesman who stayed in Turkey longest, 5 days."
The Turkish-American Business Association and Turkish-American Chamber of Commerce are members of the Chamber of Commerce of the USA. Missions are developing the trade relations between Turkey and the US, attracting American investments to Turkey, organizing cultural and promotional activities, creating values for members and creating an effective American Chamber of Commerce in two countries.