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Obama seeks stronger Turkish ties Obama reaches out to Muslim world
(about 2 hours later)
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. During his first visit to a mainly Muslim state, President Barack Obama has declared that the US "is not and will never be at war with Islam".
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. Addressing the Turkish parliament, Mr Obama called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world and said the US would soon launch outreach programmes.
He is hoping to revitalise ties with Turkey, which have deteriorated in recent years over the war in Iraq. "America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaeda," he said.
On Sunday, Mr Obama voiced his support for Turkey's efforts to join the EU. Mr Obama also said Washington supported Turkey's efforts to join the EU.
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. Earlier, at a news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, he urged Turkey to help bridge the gap between the Muslim and Western worlds.
He said his visit was a "statement about the importance of Turkey, not just to the United States, but to the world".
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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. The US president began his visit to Turkey on Monday morning by laying a wreath at the tomb of the founder of modern Turkish state, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, whose "vision and courage" he praised.
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. He then travelled to the presidential palace in Ankara for talks with President Abdullah Gul, before giving an address to the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to assuage his country's concerns. Mr Obama devoted much of his speech to urging a greater bond between Americans and Muslims, admitting that "the trust that binds us has been strained".
On Monday, Mr Rasmussen promised to pay close attention to religious sensibilities when he takes over the job in August. "Let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam," he stated.
'Set of strategies' "In fact, our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject."
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. Mr Obama's remarks were welcomed by Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan
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. He said; "The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country - I know, because I am one of them."
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, whose "vision, tenacity and courage" he praised. "And when people look back on this time, let it be said of America that we extended the hand of friendship," he said.
"There is an old Turkish proverb: 'You cannot put out fire with flames.'"
'Crucial ally'
In his speech, Mr Obama said the US considered Turkey a "critical ally", despite the deterioration of their relations over the war in Iraq.
He said that while they had not always agreed on everything, the two states were stronger when they worked together.
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
He then travelled to the presidential palace in Ankara for talks with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul. "That is why we must listen to one another, and seek common ground," he said.
After the meeting, Mr Obama 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 also reiterated that the US government strongly supported Turkey's bid to become a member of the European Union.
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". "Europe gains by diversity of ethnicity, tradition and faith - it is not diminished by it," he said to a round of applause from the audience. "And Turkish membership would broaden and strengthen Europe's foundation once more."
"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 EU agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2004, but in recent years Turkey has made little progress with democratic reforms which would improve its chances of membership, correspondents say.
Mr Obama later stood by his 2008 assertion that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 constituted "genocide" - without repeating the word - but said he had been encouraged by recent talks between Turkey and Armenia. Later in his address, Mr Obama said the US strongly supported the full normalisation of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
The issue remains highly sensitive between the governments of Armenia and Turkey, which denies those killed were victims of systematic genocide, and as prevented normal diplomatic relations between them for many years. At his earlier news conference with President Gul, he had stood by his 2008 assertion that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 constituted "genocide" - without repeating the word.
During his presidential election campaign, Mr Obama said the "Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence".
Later, addressing the Turkish parliament, the US president said that while Turkey and his country had not always agreed on everything, the two states were stronger when they acted together. He said Turkey and the US must listen to each other and seek common ground.
'Mutual respect'
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.
Several groups have been demonstrating against the visitSeveral groups have been demonstrating against the visit
The issue remains highly sensitive between the governments of Armenia and Turkey, which denies those killed were victims of systematic genocide, and has prevented normal relations between them for many years.
During his election campaign, Mr Obama said the "Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion, or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence".
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.
Speaking in Prague on Sunday, Mr Obama said Turkey's entry into the EU would help to consolidate its position as a Western nation.
"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.
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.
The EU agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2004, but in recent years 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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