OBAMA DISCUSSES ARMENIA, MIDEAST, AFGHANISTAN WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS
Hurriyet
Feb 16 2009
Turkey
U.S. President Barack Obama called Turkish President Abdullah Gul
and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and had two "warm and productive"
conversations, the White House said late on Monday. (UPDATED)
According to the statements issued by the White House, and both Gul
and Erdogan’s offices Obama and Turkish officials discussed the Middle
East, including Iraq and Iran, Afghanistan and Armenia.
"In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues,
including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship,
the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the
U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," the White House said
in a statement.
This is the highest level contact of the new administration in
Washington with Ankara since Obama took the office in Jan. 20. Earlier
in February U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan on the sidelines of a security conference.
"The president emphasized the importance of the United States alliance
with Turkey and said he looks forward to working with both President
Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan on a broad agenda of mutual strategic
interest," the White House said adding, Obama emphasized his desire
to strengthen U.S.-Turkish relations and to work together effectively
in NATO.
Gul’s office said prior to the White House’s statement Obama had
praised Turkey’s leadership in the regional issues. The two leaders
also "re-affirmed the will to work together, reviewing regional as
well as international issues," Gul’s office added.
Gul told the U.S. president that a legislation that would recognize
the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents should not be put
before Congress.
The issue of 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well as
Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died
in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by
Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
FOCUS ON ARMENIA ISSUE
However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5
million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in
1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in accepting
Turkey’s proposal of forming a commission to investigate the claims.
The issue of 1915 incidents was high on the agenda of Obama-Erdogan
discussion. The Obama administration is seen as the most pro-Armenian
administration in Washington. Obama, Biden and Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton pledged to recognize the Armenian claims on the 1915
incidents, which has caused major concern in Turkey.
Erdogan underlined the importance of the strategic
cooperation. "Turkey’s stance on policies regarding the Middle East
and Armenia is clear. America’s fair and impartial approach (to these
issues) is important in order to prevent any damage to the bilateral
relations," Erdogan was quoted as telling to Obama.
The U.S. president welcomed the recent restored dialogue between
Turkey and Armenia, signaling under the existing circumstances he
would refrain from taking any step that would harm these efforts.
Turkey and Armenia had restored dialogue, an important step to
normalize the relations that would eventually result in the opening
of the border between two neighboring countries. Turkey closed its
border and cut its diplomatic relations with Armenia in a protest to
Armenian occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.
"I would like to say that your leadership is vital in the Middle East
peace process and America always understands Turkey’s sensitivities,"
Erdogan’s office quoted Obama as telling the Turkish prime minister.
The statement said Obama expressed willingness to work with Turkey
on many issues such as maintaining peace in the Middle East, ending
PKK terrorism and relations with Armenia.