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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Obama seeks stronger Turkish ties | Obama seeks stronger Turkish ties |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has begun a two-day visit to Turkey to meet Turkish leaders in an effort to revitalise ties between the two countries. | US President Barack Obama has begun a two-day visit to Turkey to meet Turkish leaders in an effort to revitalise ties between the two countries. |
| Mr Obama made a visit to the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder, Ataturk, praising his "vision and courage". | |
| En route to Ankara, Mr Obama said he supported the country's efforts to join the European Union. | |
| He said Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it in Europe. | He said Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it in Europe. |
| Before travelling to Turkey, Mr Obama participated in a Nato gathering in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the alliance's next leader. | Before travelling to Turkey, Mr Obama participated in a Nato gathering in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the alliance's next leader. |
| Turkey had misgivings about Mr Rasmussen over his refusal to apologise for the "cartoons controversy", in which a Danish newspaper published illustrations that inflamed passions in much of the Muslim world. | |
| But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to resolve concerns. | But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to resolve concerns. |
| "He put forth a lot of positive energy," Mr Erdogan said. "We responded positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept." | "He put forth a lot of positive energy," Mr Erdogan said. "We responded positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept." |
| Strategic visit | Strategic visit |
| Correspondents say security is extremely tight for Mr Obama's visit. | Correspondents say security is extremely tight for Mr Obama's visit. |
| Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone over Ankara, AP news agency reported. | Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone over Ankara, AP news agency reported. |
| OBAMA'S TRANSATLANTIC VISIT 2 April: G20 summit in London3 April: Obama meets Sarkozy in France and Merkel in Germany4 April: Leaders hold Nato summit in Strasbourg5 April: Obama in Prague for US-EU summit6-7 April: Obama visits Turkey The Obama effect reaches Nato Mark Mardell: Ideal backdrop | OBAMA'S TRANSATLANTIC VISIT 2 April: G20 summit in London3 April: Obama meets Sarkozy in France and Merkel in Germany4 April: Leaders hold Nato summit in Strasbourg5 April: Obama in Prague for US-EU summit6-7 April: Obama visits Turkey The Obama effect reaches Nato Mark Mardell: Ideal backdrop |
| Almost 9,000 police will be deployed for Mr Obama's visit to Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, which begins late on Monday. | Almost 9,000 police will be deployed for Mr Obama's visit to Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, which begins late on Monday. |
| Several small groups have been holding anti-US demonstrations in both cities, the AP said. | Several small groups have been holding anti-US demonstrations in both cities, the AP said. |
| The visit is Mr Obama's first to a majority Muslim country as president, and only his second purely bilateral visit after Canada. | The visit is Mr Obama's first to a majority Muslim country as president, and only his second purely bilateral visit after Canada. |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says the fact that he chose to come to Turkey so early has been welcomed as a sign that he wants to re-engage with it. | The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says the fact that he chose to come to Turkey so early has been welcomed as a sign that he wants to re-engage with it. |
| Public support for the US dropped to a record low during the Bush administration, fuelled mostly by fierce opposition to the invasion of Iraq, she says. | Public support for the US dropped to a record low during the Bush administration, fuelled mostly by fierce opposition to the invasion of Iraq, she says. |
| 'Mutual respect' | 'Mutual respect' |
| Speaking in Prague on Sunday, Mr Obama said Turkey's entry into the EU would help to consolidate its position as a Western nation. | Speaking in Prague on Sunday, Mr Obama said Turkey's entry into the EU would help to consolidate its position as a Western nation. |
| Several groups have been demonstrating against the visit | Several groups have been demonstrating against the visit |
| "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest," he said. | "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest," he said. |
| "Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe." | "Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe." |
| But French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU itself to decide who joined the bloc - and that he had always been personally opposed to Turkey's entry. | |
| "When it comes to the European Union it's up to member states of the European Union to decide," he told French TV. | "When it comes to the European Union it's up to member states of the European Union to decide," he told French TV. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while close links with Turkey were important, its future status in Europe was still open for discussion. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while close links with Turkey were important, its future status in Europe was still open for discussion. |
| The EU agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2004, but in recent years, correspondents say, Turkey has made little progress with democratic reforms which would improve its chances of membership. | The EU agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2004, but in recent years, correspondents say, Turkey has made little progress with democratic reforms which would improve its chances of membership. |
| Are you in the region? What do you think of Obama's backing of Turkey's EU bid? You can send us your views using the form below: | Are you in the region? What do you think of Obama's backing of Turkey's EU bid? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |