Turkey's EU negotiator meets U.S. ambassador

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis received U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone at Turkish Secretariat General for the EU in Ankara on Monday.
Bagis said that the United States had always supported Turkey's EU membership bid, adding that the support was extended during the administrations of both democrats and republicans. 
He noted that Turkey expected the continuation of U.S. support to Turkey's EU membership bid to make the country more democratic, modern, transparent and prosper.
Bagis also wished success to Ricciardone who was newly appointed as ambassador to Turkey.
Ricciardone said that the United States continuously supported Turkey's EU membership bid.
Ricciardone presented his letter of credence to Turkish President Abdullah Gul on January 28.
He is a diplomat who knows Turkey closely, carried out various duties in Turkey previously, and has a good command of Turkish language.     
Ricciardone has served since 2009 as Deputy Ambassador and Charge d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. He also served as ambassador to Egypt until 2008, and ambassador to the Philippines and concurrently to Palau.     
Ambassador Ricciardone began his career in Ankara and Adana, Turkey. He served twice again in Turkey: as political advisor to the U.S. and Turkish commanders of Operation Provide Comfort at Incirlik Air Force Base, and as Deputy Chief of Mission and Charge d'Affaires. He led the transition to an organization of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2004, and the Department of State's Task Force in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001. He also served as former Secretary Albright's Special Representative for the Transition of Iraq from 1999-2001.    
The ambassador, who graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College in 1973, knows Italian, French and Arabic in addition to Turkish.