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Tehran Times
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Source: hurriyet.com

Turkey to carefully watch new U.S. administration after Obama’s win

Turkish leaders welcomed the election of America’s first
African-American president, as a source of hope for peace in the
world. But the new administration’s uncertain policies on a wide range
of issues, from the alleged "genocide" of Armenians to Iran and Iraq,
are a matter of curiosity for Ankara.

"Your message of change and hope meets today’s expectations. Turkey
embraces this message," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in a
letter of congratulations he sent to U.S. President- elect Barack
Obama. The original version of the letter was aired on the web site of
the presidency on Wednesday.

The president highlighted the importance of Turkish-U.S. friendship,
based upon such universally accepted values as freedom, democracy and
human rights, and reiterated Turkey’s resolve to improve the strategic
partnership with Washington, especially in the fight on terrorism.

The outgoing U.S. ambassador to Turkey praised the election as a,
"miracle of American democracy that a poor African-American, from a
broken family, could rise to become the leader of our country."

"That he could do so, less than 40 years after the great civil rights
struggle of America, is especially remarkable and it is a source of
great pride," said Ambassador Ross Wilson in brief remarks.

On Turkish-American relations, he underlined that there were always
changes from president to president, but also great continuity.

"President after president has understood the importance of Turkey to
the United States and of the United States to Turkey. President after
president has engaged seriously and in a very sustained way with
Turkish leaders for decades," Wilson said.

But he added that he did not know what the future held.

"Like all of you, I look forward to seeing the movie that we will be
watching over the four years of the Obama administration. But I am
sure that we will remain friends and remain engaged and the close
bonds between our two countries will endure in many presidential terms
to follow."

The desire to reach the stars is ambitious but the desire to reach
hearts is wise. The election campaign in the United States has shown
that this is Obama’s wisdom, said a member of a panel at the beginning
of a long night Tuesday in the Turkish capital.

The event was part of a traditional over-night election-watch at the
Turkish-American Association in Ankara. The morning heralded the
winner, the first black American leader in U.S. history.

"The election result shows there is no longer a black-white problem in
the United States," said Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, describing it
as a turning point in American history.

But Obama-led policies, especially on the 1915 incidents, remain to be seen.

Erdogan expressed belief that the statement Obama made during the
election campaign would remain election rhetoric. If elected
president, Obama had pledged to recognize the 1915 incidents.

The Turkish premier also said foreign ministry diplomats would seek an
opportunity to meet Obama during a visit to the United States next
week. Erdogan will attend an economic summit in Washington on Nov. 15,
when the current financial crisis, its causes and efforts to resolve
it will be discussed.