The American-Turkish Council (ATC) has announced that retired Gen. James L. Jones, US President Barack Obama's first national security advisor and former NATO supreme allied commander in Europe, will be the new chairman of the ATC "in recognition of the vital role outstanding leadership plays in the promotion of US-Turkey relations", Today's Zaman reported.
Jones will replace retired US Ambassador and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, who is completing his current term on Dec. 31. Having been the chairman of the ATC for four years, Armitage will continue to serve on the ATC board.
The American-Turkish Council aims to strengthen US-Turkish relations through the promotion of business, technology and cultural relations and encouraging cooperation on national security and foreign policy. Its diverse membership includes Fortune 500 US and Turkish companies, multinationals, nonprofit organizations and individuals with an interest in US-Turkish relations. The ATC seeks to increase commercial ties between the US and Turkey by initiating and facilitating investment and trade between the two countries.
"Corporate members of the ATC, both American and Turkish, welcome General Jones and look forward to working with him to strengthen business, trade and investment relations, as well as the national security and foreign policy relationships between the US and Turkey, two proven allies and friends," said an ATC statement released on Wednesday.
Jones will begin his service as the ATC chairman as of Jan. 1, 2014.
Jones is a Vietnam War veteran and former Marine general who served as Marine Corps commandant from 1999 to 2003 and NATO's supreme allied commander in Europe from 2003 to 2006. He retired from the Marine Corps in February 2007. Jones became Obama's first national security advisor in 2009. He is also the founder and president of Jones Group International, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm providing national security and foreign policy advice.