USA’S OBAMA STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF TURKISH PREMIER’S ROLE IN MIDEAST PEACE

Anadolu Agency
Feb 16 2009
Turkey

ANKARA (A.A) – US President Barack Obama told Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan during a telephone conversation on Monday that Turkey
played an important role for peace in its region.

"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 press office quoted Obama as telling the Turkish premier.

Obama also expressed willingness to work with Turkey in many issues
such as maintaining peace in the Middle East, ending PKK terrorism
and relations with Armenia.

Erdogan in return highlighted Turkey’s sensitivities regarding Armenia
and the Middle East, expressing the importance of fair and impartial
stance of the United States to secure that the relations between the
two countries were not damaged.