WASHINGTON 

A top Turkish parliamentarian on Tuesday held talks with members of the US Congress in Washington, seeking to strengthen ties between the two countries’ lawmakers.

Speaking to Turkish media, Fuat Oktay, head of the Turkish parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, underlined that Türkiye’s communication channels at both the government and head of state level are "extremely positive.”

He said the Turkish delegation hopes to see similar progress at the congressional level, noting that improving ties between the two countries is going more slowly in the House of Representatives and the Senate due to a focus on domestic politics.

Oktay said the Turkish delegation will hold a series of meetings in Washington through Friday, primarily with the chairs of the foreign relations committees of both the Senate and House.

He added that the meetings aim to convey Türkiye’s positions and establish healthy communication channels between the two legislatures.

During the meetings, said Oktay, Türkiye’s potential contributions to European security "due to relations in the transatlantic dimension" as well as continuing US sanctions on Türkiye are expected to be discussed.

The immediate lifting of these sanctions would have a very positive impact on both regional peace and Turkish-US relations, he said.

- Türkiye's principled foreign policy

Oktay also noted that "Türkiye has a foreign policy based on principles," adding that its policies towards its neighbors or countries in the region are not driven by self-interest.

He stressed that Turkish foreign policy contributes to regional peace and is based on respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the independence of those countries.

Oktay also said this “foundation based on principles” can be seen in Türkiye’s approach to a number of important issues, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Turkish relations with both Syria and the Palestinian group Hamas, and its stance on developments between the US and Iran.

*Writing by Kanyshai Butun in Istanbul