The U.S. Consulate in Istanbul held a formal welcoming reception on Tuesday evening at the residence of the newly-appointed U.S. Consul General Jennifer L. Davis, with the attendance of figures from politics, media, academia, and the business world, three days after the U.S. State Department ordered the departure of family members of employees at the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, Turkey, citing security concerns over "increased terror threats."

Istanbul's Mayor Kadir Topbaş, as well as other mayors from several districts in Istanbul were among the guests at the reception held at the Consul General's residence on the Bosporus.

Consul General said during the welcoming speech that her aim will be to work on strengthening the U.S.-Turkey relations while on duty in Istanbul, a city which she has visited many times before and loves a lot.

Consul General Davis was recently appointed to the role, as well as Cultural Attache Catherine A. Roden and Press Attache Nicholas C. Griffith.

The State Department had also recently authorized the voluntary departure of relatives of employees at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul.