Topbas called on U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents 1210 U.S. cities, to work with UCLG and support UCLG to help create habitable cities. Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas attended the annual meeting of U.S. Conference of Mayors held in Baltimore on Friday.

Topbas made a speech at the meeting he attended as the head of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), a world organization dedicated to promoting the values, objectives and interests of cities and local governments across the world. Over 1000 cities from 95 countries are direct members of UCLG.

Topbas called on U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents 1210 U.S. cities, to work with UCLG and support UCLG to help create habitable cities and contribute to global peace.

Latin American countries should have stronger business ties with Turkey, the head of a Turkish business organization said Friday at a business congress organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, or CANACO, in Mexico City.

“Commercial relations should be enhanced between Turkey and Mexico,” said Rifat Hisarciklioğlu chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, or TOBB, at the meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Hisaciklioğlu attended a meeting of the World Chambers Federation, or WCF, chaired by Rona Yırcalı, the board chairman of the Foreign Economic Relations Board, or DEİK.

Retired Maj. Gen. Elmer Pendleton, a former U.S. official who devoted his life to the development of Turkish-American relations, died Thursday at his home in Virginia, the American-Turkish Council, or ATC, announced late Thursday. "General Pendleton died suddenly and peacefully at home this morning," the ATC said in a statement. Pendleton, who retired in 1986, was 83 years old and is survived by his wife, Anne, and three children.

The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) has awarded a multi-year major grant to American Friends of Turkey (AFOT) to support the institutional development of AFOT and advance the organization's programs. AFOT was founded in 1982 by Americans who had lived in Turkey on professional assignments, and had come to admire and respect Turkey's history, culture and people.  They wished to share accurate information about Turkey with their fellow Americans. Since then, AFOT has sought through various means to build bridges between the U.S. and Turkish peoples. AFOT’s programs and activities promote greater public awareness and understanding of Turkey’s history, culture and modern day society.