BARACK OBAMA IN TURKEY

In The News
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A pril 6 2009
UK

Barack Obama in Turkey: Live Printer friendly version Follow live
updates throughout the day as Barack Obama starts a two-day visit
to Turkey.

All times BST

13:41 – President Obama repeats his call for Turkey to become a full
member of the EU. "We speak not as members of the EU… but as close
friends of both the EU and Turkey.

"Turkey is bound to Europe by more than bridges over the
Bosphorus. Centuries of shared history, culture and commerce."

Comments likely to anger many anti-accessionists in the bloc.

13:39 – Turkey and the US are working together to tackle an
unprecedented crisis… President Obama, speaking at a new news
conference, is discussing the global recession.

12:15 – Obama praises Turkey’s status as a secular country, which
mirrors the US. The role of faith in politics is under immense scrutiny
at the moment.

And with that the press conference draws to a close.

12:11 – In the third month of your presidency, there is a huge
expectancy from the Turkish community on you. How are you different
from George Bush, President Obama is asked.

"Despite some of the problems dating back to 2003, you have seen
steady improvement in US-Turkish relations," is his reply.

"What I hope to do is to build on what is already a strong foundation."

Both presidents share a commitment to building commercial links and
the PKK is on the terrorism list of the two countries.

12:07 – "This is not a matter for law or politics, this is a matter
for history," President Gul responds.

"We don’t want future generations to grow up in animosity. We ask the
historians to sit down together and find a solution to this word… we
are prepared to face the reality – politicians cannnot make a decision
on who lost or won."

Armenian genocide?

12:05 – Uncomfortable first question. President Obama says his view
on the Armenian genocide, which Turkey disputes the terminology of,
is on the record.

"I don’t want to focus on my views, but the views of the Turkish
people," he says, calling on Turkey to move forward from a "difficult
and tragic history".

Obama really tip-toeing around the issue in very sensitive language.

12:04 – The gap between the west and the Muslim world can be bridged
by Turkey, President Obama says in his preamble.

12:02 – President Obama confirms that peace in the Middle East and
reducing the threat of nuclear proliferation were top of the agenda
for his talks in Turkey.

12:00 – "Am I trying to make a statement by ending this week-long
trip in Turkey? Yes I am," says Obama.

"This country lies at the crossroads of east and west."

President Obama is concluding his first major overseas visit as
president in Turkey, a key Nato ally.

After a highly successful visit to London for the G20 summit and
France/Germany for a summit to mark the 60th anniversary of Nato,
President Obama has caused a minor row after backing Turkish accession
to the EU.

The statement prompted a rebuke from Nicolas Sarkozy, who repeated
French opposition to the move.

11:58 – Turkish president Abdullah Gul says it is a great honour to
welcome President Obama to Ankara.

11:00 – President Obama is making his first visit to a mainly-Muslim
country since his inauguration. He has already visited the mausoleum
of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk- the founding father of modern Turkey.

He is due to address the Turkish parliament before travelling to
Istanbul. Follow live updates on his trip on inthenews.co.uk.