Newly appointed US Ambassador to Turkey arrives in Ankara

Jeffrey was met at Ankara Esenboga Airport by U.S. Embassy to Ankara officials and made a short statement in Turkish, in which he told reporters that he was pleased to be back in Turkey."Turkey and the U.S. have been friends since 1923 and they have also been allies in Korea and in NATO for 58 years. We have a special alliance which is important for Ankara and Washington. I am very glad to be back in Ankara and Turkey," he said.Throughout my 31 year career, I have worked on a number of occasions in Turkey, the last time I worked in Ankara was in 1999-2002 as head undersecretary, said Jeffrey, a former U.S. Army officer and a diplomat.

Jeffrey served in Turkey in three positions and speaks Turkish. He was selected for the Ankara post due to his vast knowledge of Turkey and experience in Middle Eastern affairs, one analyst said.

Most Washington insiders view Jeffrey as a "candid, good, smart and active" diplomat.

In August 2007, Bush named Jeffrey as assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor.

Before his current job, Jeffrey was principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. He served as senior advisor on Iraq to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice from August 2005 to August 2006. Ambassador Jeffrey was deputy chief of mission in Baghdad from June 2004 to March 2005. From March to June 2005, he served as U.S. charge d'affairs to Iraq. From 2002-04, he was the U.S ambassador to Albania.