TURKEY’S GUL CALLS OBAMA OVER KARABAKH, CYPRUS ISSUES: REPORT

Tehran Times
Oct 19 2009
Iran

Turkish President Abdullah Gul called U.S. President Barack Obama on
Saturday over several foreign policy issues, Turkish media said.

Gul reportedly asked him to help Turkey in two issues when Turkey
was getting prepared for changes in its foreign policy.

Reports said Gul told Obama to urge the Minsk Group to take action
and solve the Upper Karabakh dispute, and to support settlement of
Cyprus problem.

Turkey urges Armenia to end occupation in Azeri land where since
early 1990s in which nearly 30,000 people died and 2 million were
forced to flee their homes.

On the other hand, the two men discussed "the historic progress that is
being made on normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia,
and the importance of maintaining the momentum in this important
effort," the White House said in a statement.

Turkey and Armenia signed two protocols a week ago to normalize ties.

Foreign report also said, Gul and Obama discussed the "situation in
Afghanistan" and agreed to work closely in the "critical weeks" ahead.

Obama is in the midst of defining a new strategy for the Afghan
occupation.

The two men also discussed the need for "sustained engagement" in
resolving the ongoing conflict in Cyprus, and in "promoting stability"
in Bosnia-Herzegovina.