United States and Turkey Sign Science and Technology Agreement

The Governments of the United States and the Republic of Turkey signed a Science and Technology Agreement today at the U.S. Department of State in Washington D.C. Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs signed on behalf of the United States while Deputy Under Secretary for Bilateral Affairs and Public Diplomacy Selim Yenel signed on behalf of Turkey.

This new Agreement, which replaces an earlier 1994 text, marks an important milestone in the rich history of U.S.-Turkish scientific cooperation. As President Obama stated during his visit to Turkey in April 2009, “…Turkey and the United States must stand together — and work together — to overcome the challenges of our time.” The Agreement will further this goal by providing the legal framework for increased agency-to-agency collaboration across a broad range of scientific disciplines.

Scientific collaboration is only one facet of the U.S.-Turkish bilateral relationship. This Agreement will deepen and diversify relations between the two countries by facilitating the undertaking of joint cooperative research projects; exchanges for scientists, specialists and researchers; the establishment of science-based public-private partnerships; as well as the sharing of facilities, equipment and materials for scientific collaboration between the United States and Turkey. Areas of potential bilateral scientific cooperation include research on earthquake early warning and preparedness, environmental science, climate change, renewable energy, health, archeology, material science and chemistry.

PRN: 2010/1495