Davutoğlu delivered a speech at the US Independence Day reception at the US Embassy in Ankara, where he said Turkish-American relations had evolved in a positive way, recalling a close alliance between the two countries during the Cold War. Noting that Turkey and the US have worked together on a number of problematic issues after the Cold War, Davutoğlu said the two countries are now two model partners, which has largely developed after the visit of US President Barack Obama to Turkey in 2009 as part of his first overseas trips.
Davutoğlu said ties between the US and Turkey are not only limited to security or military relations but also have cultural and economic dimensions. He said the area that relations between the two countries covers is now bigger and that this is important not only for the US and Turkey but also for other regions.
Ricciardone told those present that the event was not a simple celebration and that it is another reason to recall values such as equality, freedom and democracy.
