OBAMA PRAISES MUSLIM TURKEY, KEY TO US WAR EFFORT
Javno.hr
April 6 2009
Obama’s visit is a recognition of the secular but predominantly Muslim
country’s growing clout.
U.S. President Barack Obama sought on Monday to rebuild ties with
Turkey, a Muslim country with growing clout whose help Washington
needs to solve confrontations from Iran to Afghanistan.
Obama’s two-day visit is a nod to Turkey’s regional reach, economic
power, diplomatic contacts and status as a secular democracy seeking
European Union membership that has accommodated political Islam.
It is the last leg of his debut trip on the world stage as
president. It is also his first to a predominantly Muslim country as
president, a visit closely watched in the Islamic world.
"I look forward to strengthening relations between the U.S. and Turkey
and support Ataturk’s vision of Turkey as a modern and prosperous
democracy," Obama wrote in the guestbook at the tomb of the revered
founder of modern Turkey.
The U.S.-Turkish relationship suffered in 2003 when Ankara opposed
the invasion of Iraq and refused to let U.S. troops deploy on its
territory. Turkey has also criticised Washington for allowing Kurdish
separatists to be based in northern Iraq from where they stage attacks
into Turkish territory.
Obama held talks with President Abdullah Gul after the tomb visit. The
White House said at the top of his agenda was to discuss regional
challenges, like the threat from terrorism, the war in Afghanistan,
relations with Iran, and a goal of lasting peace between Israel and
its neighbours.
Turkey is a major transit route for U.S. troops and equipment destined
for Iraq as well as Afghanistan. As the United States reduces its
troops there, Incirlik air force base could play a key role and Obama
will discuss this.
"Given Turkish activity and credibility in the wider region stretching
from Afghanistan to the Middle East, passing over energy transit
routes, Obama wants to give new blood to a real strategic partnership
with Turkey," said Cengiz Candar, a leading Turkish commentator and
Middle East expert.
REGIONAL PLAYER
In Prague on Sunday, Obama urged the European Union to accept Turkey
as a full member, in remarks rejected outright by France and met
coolly by Germany.
And Turkey said it dropped objections to Anders Fogh Rasmussen becoming
the next head of NATO after Obama guaranteed one of the Dane’s deputies
would be a Turk.
Obama may risk any new goodwill if the issue arises of the massacres
of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915.
In his election campaign, Obama pledged to call the killings of the
Armenians genocide and a resolution to so designate them was introduced
in the U.S. House of Representatives last month.
Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman
Turks during World War One but denies that up to 1.5 million died as
a result of systematic genocide.
Turkey will not be the venue for Obama’s promised major speech in
a Muslim capital but his stop will still be a way to emphasise his
message of goodwill to Muslims.
"Turkey is thrilled to have President Obama here but some Arab
countries must be nervous because Turkey is a particular model for a
Muslim country. For regimes further to the East, this sends a signal
that they could face challenges," said James Kidner, director of
the London-based Coexist Foundation, which aims to foster dialogue
between Christians, Jews and Muslims.
"It signals a new approach by the U.S. This is an opportunity for
the U.S. to engage much more seriously with the Muslim world," he said.
Obama will the parliament in Ankara and during a visit to Istanbul
he will meet with students at an Islamic museum and tour the historic
sites.