— Continued from page 40
Turkey and the United States have
been NATO allies for 64 years,
staunch partners in almost every critically important issue of world affairs.
Facing contemporary challenges like
Syria, Iraq and ISIS terrorism, our
bilateral relations are more relevant
than ever.
half of Houston right now. Since
the outbreak of the Syrian crisis five
years ago, Turkey pursued an open
door policy without discrimination
and spent over 12 billion USD to
take care of the refugees.
Syria is a breeding ground for ISIS
terrorism. Turkey, like France, BelThe conflict in Syria remains a hor- gium or the United States, has sufrific tragedy. The Syrian Crisis fered from ISIS terrorist attacks rethreatens regional stability and inter- cently. In order to clear off Turkey’s
national security. Turkey has a 566 borders from ISIS and other terrormiles border with Syria. Humani- ist elements, prevent further refugee
tarian suffering in Syria has reached flows, establish safe zones for deliverunprecedented levels. There are over ing humanitarian aid to the people
4.5 million Syrian refugees in the in need, the Turkish army launched
world. Turkey is the largest refugee a cross-border military operation in
hosting country in the world with 3 Syria on August 24th. Turkey’s ‘Opmillion — of which 2.7 million are eration Euphrates Shield’ cleared 650
Syrians. Think about it. Houston square miles from ISIS terrorism and
is around 2.2 million in population. freed over 160 Syrian cities and vilTurkey is hosting almost one and a lages.
46 iF Magazine | DECEMBER 2016
Is there anything we have not talked
about that you would like to discuss?
The 22nd World Petroleum Congress (WPC) will be held in Istanbul on July 9-13, 2017. The triennial WPC is widely recognized as the
‘Olympics’ of the oil and gas industry,
attended by world leaders and energy
stakeholders. We would like to welcome Houstonians from ‘The Energy
Capital of the World’ to Istanbul, the
crossroads of continents and cradle of
civilizations.
Thank you for the opportunity and
please consider the Turkish Consulate General as your home, myself and
my team as your friends and partners
in Houston. I congratulate International Focus for its esteemed work and
wish all the success.