US deputy secretary of state visits Turkish parliament

By Alper Atalay and Sultan Cogalan

ANKARA

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the Turkish parliament Tuesday, which was bombed during the July 15 defeated coup.

John Bass, the U.S. ambassador to Ankara and Cemalettin Tuney, head of foreign affairs at the national assembly, also accompanied Blinken, who was shown the damaged parts of the parliament building.

Following his visit, Blinken told journalists he was deeply touched. “It is great, moving to be here. [This is] the place where Turkish people through the representatives stood up for democracy and against the coup.

“It is personally moving to me because I worked our own congress for six years. And to see a house where the people’s representatives meet, be a victim of this attack speaks very clearly and powerfully. I want to start my day by paying respect to those who stood up [for] Turkish democracy and stood against the coup.”

Blinken is expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in the ongoing fight against Daesh during his visit. He is expected to leave Turkey on Sept. 28.