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Obama seeks stronger Turkish ties Obama seeks stronger Turkish ties
(about 2 hours later)
Barack Obama is visiting Turkey - his first trip to a predominantly Muslim country since becoming US president. During his first visit to a mainly Muslim state, US President Barack Obama has urged Turkey to help bridge the gap between the Muslim and Western worlds.
He is expected to try to revitalise ties with the Turkish government, which have deteriorated in recent years because of the war in Iraq. Mr Obama said his trip was a statement of the importance of Turkey to the US, at a news conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul greeted Mr Obama, who has voiced support for Turkey's efforts to join the EU. He is hoping to revitalise ties with Turkey, which have deteriorated in recent years over the war in Iraq.
He said Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it within Europe. On Sunday, Mr Obama voiced his support for Turkey's efforts to join the EU.
Before his visit, the US leader attended a Nato summit in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's appointment as the military alliance's next secretary general. He told reporters on the flight to Ankara that Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it within Europe.
Turkey had initially blocked his appointment because he had defended the right of one of his country's newspapers to publish controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which caused outrage in much of the Muslim world. Obama is a seducer, in the nicest possible way of course. He smiles and refers to himself as Hussein and does all the other things that make Europeans swoon. Then he has his way. Or does he...? Justin WebbBBC North America editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2009/04/seducerinchief.html"> Webb's America: Seducer-in-chief
Before his visit, the US leader attended a Nato summit in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's appointment as the alliance's next secretary general.
Turkey had initially blocked his appointment because he had defended the right of one of his country's newspapers to publish controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which caused widespread anger among Muslims.
But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to assuage his country's concerns.But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to assuage his country's concerns.
"He put forth a lot of positive energy," he said. "We responded positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept." On Monday, Mr Rasmussen promised to pay close attention to religious sensibilities when he takes over the job in August.
Regional challenges 'Set of strategies'
Correspondents say security is extremely tight for Mr Obama's visit, which began in the capital Ankara on Monday and was then to move on to Istanbul. Correspondents say security has been extremely tight for Mr Obama's visit, which began in the capital Ankara on Monday and will later move on to Istanbul.
Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone. Mobile phone signal jammers have also been activated along routes that the president will travel.Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone. Mobile phone signal jammers have also been activated along routes that the president will travel.
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
Several small groups have been holding anti-US demonstrations, the Associated Press reports.
At the beginning of his visit on Monday, Mr Obama laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of the modern Turkish state.At the beginning of his visit on Monday, Mr Obama laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of the modern Turkish state.
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
"I look forward to strengthening relations between the US and Turkey and support Ataturk's vision of Turkey as a modern and prosperous democracy," he wrote in the visitors' book."I look forward to strengthening relations between the US and Turkey and support Ataturk's vision of Turkey as a modern and prosperous democracy," he wrote in the visitors' book.
Mr Obama then travelled to the presidential palace in Ankara for talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.Mr Obama then travelled to the presidential palace in Ankara for talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul.
He will later visit the Turkish parliament, where he will give a speech, and hold talks with Prime Minister Erdogan before leaving for Istanbul. After the meeting, the US leader told a news conference that they had discussed the need for the US-Turkish partnership to address regional challenges like the threat from terrorism, the war in Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process.
"The president will discuss the need for the US-Turkish partnership to address regional challenges like the threat from terrorism, the war in Afghanistan, relations with Iran, and the shared goal of lasting peace between Israel and its neighbours," the White House said. He told reporters he wanted to "make a statement about the importance of Turkey, not just to the United States, but to the world", describing it as a blend of "ancient traditions with the modern nation state that respects democracy".
"It gives me confidence that moving forward, not only are we going to be able to improve our bilateral relations, but as we work together we are going to be able to shape a set of strategies that can bridge the divide between the Muslim world and the West, that can make us more prosperous and more secure," he added.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says the fact that Mr Obama chose to come to Turkey on only his second purely bilateral visit 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 Mr Obama chose to come to Turkey on only his second purely bilateral visit 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, our correspondent 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, our correspondent 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 visitSeveral 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.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:
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