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New York Times Publishes AHI Comment to Editorial on Turkey’s Anti-Americanism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Georgea Polizos
August 5, 2016—No. 35 (202) 785-8430

New York Times Publishes AHI Comment to Editorial on Turkey’s Anti-Americanism

WASHINGTON, DC — The New York Times published a submission from Nicholas G. Karambelas, Esq., American Hellenic Institute’s legal counsel and member of AHI’s board of directors, to its editorial titled, “Turkey’s New Anti-Americanism,” August 4, 2016.

The New York Times Editorial Board explores Turkey’s misguided aim to blame Washington for July’s failed coup attempt, which is centered around President Erdogan’s demand for Washington to extradite Fethullah Gulen, who Erdogan accuses as being the main culprit behind the failed coup. Toward the end, the editorial ponders: “Over the long term, the United States and NATO have a more profound problem on their hands: What to do with a vital ally that is veering far from democratic norms?”

Karambelas wrote in his commentary, which the New York Times made as one of its “picks:”  

The editorial ignores history.  The Turkish government and to an extent Turkish society has engaged in oppressive and repressive policies for decades.  Erdogan is the only the latest manifestation of this Turkish political culture, not a new phenomenon.  Ostensibly to support the objectives of NATO, the United States has indulged Turkey and even abetted these policies.  Yet Turkey has not used US-supplied weapons, tanks and military aircraft against the enemies of NATO.  Since 1974, Turkey has used them to invade and occupy the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, a member state of the European Union, and to continually violate the airspace of Greece, a NATO member and a member state of the European Union.

Now the N.Y. Times and, for that matter, American officials are shocked (“shocked I say...”) at “Turkey’s New Anti-Americanism” which Erdogan reflects in his bizarre ravings about U.S. complicity in the coup.  This is the opportunity for the U.S. to fundamentally re-access its relationship with and policies towards Turkey.  Even if U.S. officials do not care about the abuses of human rights by Turkey, part of this assessment should be the fact that Turkey has enabled ISIS by allowing it to truck oil and other commodities through the territory of Turkey.

Thus far, Karambelas’ comment received 31 “like” recommendations from readers.

The American Hellenic Institute is a non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.

 

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For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or atpr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.