The presidential meeting was followed by expanded talks.

"John McCain on the other hand knows Turkey well and can understand our strategic value," a Turkish politician says.

Richard Giragosian: Turkey offered to build a second line - Kars-Gyumri - to engage Armenia into the project.

Turkey's Caucasus platform serves the interests of all countries in the region, Murat Bilhan said.

Many Republicans viewed the bill as "socialism" for its unprecedented use of taxpayer dollars to help the private sector.

The United States should urge Turkey to protect the rights of its Armenian minority, and return historic Armenian churches to the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Co-founder and president of Georgian Rustavi-2, former Ambassador to Russia Erosi Kitsmarishvili said he leaves the ranks of President Saakashvili's supporters.