Monday, May 15, 2017 5:00 PM - 6:30 PMA discussion with David L. Phillips, Director, Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University?s Institute for the Study of Human Rights and a former Senior Adviser and Foreign Affairs Expert at the US Department of State, on the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump called Erdogan after Turkey?s sham referendum to congratulate him and arrange an official visit to Washington (16-17 May 2017). The summit meeting could be rocky, despite their personal affinities. Erdogan will demand the extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who he accuses of masterminding the coup in July 2016. He also wants the US to cut off support to Syrian Kurds with whom the Pentagon closely coordinates the fight against ISIS. Erdogan is also likely to ask the US to drop charges against Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian dual national accused of evading sanctions on Iran, whose corruption touches Erdogan and his inner circle.
