Ambassador Nicholas Burns and Consul General Sharon Anderholm Wiener with İmam of Süleymaniye Mosque

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Visits Istanbul

September 18, 2007

Under Secretary of State R. Nicholas Burns visited Turkey on September 18-20 to discuss a range of strategic issues with the new Turkish government and to reaffirm the great importance the U.S. attaches to our alliance with Turkey.  This was the first in a series of high-level meetings between the United States and the new Turkish government that will take place this autumn. 

In Istanbul, Under Secretary Burns visited Suleymaniye Mosque ( video) and His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew ( video).  He met with Members of Parliament during an Iftaar.  He also spoke to the think tank TESEV and to students at Robert College ( video), and visited the U.S. Consulate General.

In Ankara, Under Secretary Burns met with Prime Minister Erdogan and senior members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Parliament.