Obama: relationship between Turkey and U.S. remains strong

PanARMENIAN.Net - The relationship between Turkey and the United States remains strong and is “more important than ever” in the wake of leaked U.S. diplomatic cables critical of some officials in Ankara, the U.S. President said.

Following a recent conversation with the Turkish Prime Minister, Barack Obama said in an interview with Hurriyet daily that the two leaders had “reaffirmed the strong state of U.S.-Turkish relations” despite some differences “from time to time.”

“Our partnership is resilient, and we agreed that the irresponsible acts of WikiLeaks do not threaten it,” Obama said. “Given the increasingly complex challenges the world faces, I believe that U.S.-Turkish cooperation is more important now than ever.”

Responding to a question about the ongoing diplomatic chill between Turkey and Israel, Obama encouraged the two U.S. regional allies to “find an acceptable way forward” and “do everything they can to repair their relations,” while applauding Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to send Turkish aircraft to assist the Israeli government in battling devastating forest fires earlier this month.

Obama also addressed speculation that Turkey’s vote in June opposing a new round of United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran indicated that Ankara was shifting its foreign policy toward the Middle East and away from the West.

“Turkey has pursued an active foreign policy that has seen it interacting more intensively than ever with countries all across its neighborhood and beyond,” Obama said. “I recognize this important emerging role for Turkey.”

Suggesting the controversy over the Iran vote stemmed from a “difference about tactics,” the U.S. President expressed confidence that Turkey “shares the goal of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.”

Obama also reiterated U.S. support for Turkish accession to the EU and urged Ankara “to continue the reforms necessary to complete the membership process.”

“I remain convinced that a Turkey that meets EU membership criteria would be good for the EU and that Turkey’s efforts to meet those criteria is good for Turkey,” the U.S. president said. “Europe gains by the diversity of ethnicity, tradition and faith – it is not diminished by it. And Turkish membership in the EU would broaden and strengthen Europe’s foundation once more.”