OBAMA WELCOMES THE RECENT RESTORED ARMENIA-TURKEY DIALOGUE
armradio.am
17.02.2009 17:46
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.
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,
Hurriyet Daily reported.
"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.
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 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 rec ognize the Armenian Genocide, 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.
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.