Brent Scowcroft, Chairman of the American-Turkish Council, has arrived in Ankara. He is visiting Turkey on the threshold of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the United States, which is scheduled for December 7. At his news conference, Brent Scowcroft made his appraisal of Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy.

The Chairman of the American-Turkish Council welcomed the democratic reforms in Turkey. He pointed out the importance of the Armenian-Turkish protocols for establishing peace in the region.

The Council members discussed the Cypriot problem. They pointed out that the resolution of the problem is of high importance for Turkey’s admission to the European Union and expressed their support for Turkey.

Richard Armitage, Brent Scowcroft’s successor, made an appraisal of the Turkish-Israel relations, pointing our temporary tension. Scowcroft stressed Turkey’s important role in the region due to its policy in the Near East. The Council members will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Energy Minister Taner Yildiz.