Journal of Turkish Weekly
Jan 23 2010
U.S. National Security Council Spokesman Says President Obama
Considers Relations With Turkey An Important Strategic Partnership
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Mike Hammer, spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said,
"the relationship with Turkey was President Barack Obama’s recognition
that it is an important strategic partnership."
Hammer said at a news conference, "the bilateral relationship with
Turkey is the president’s recognition that it’s an important strategic
partnership. Not only is Turkey a NATO ally, but it’s an important
country with great linkages into the Muslim world. And that was a
primary reason why, as part of our first trip to Europe, we stopped in
Turkey."
"And we have been working with the Turkish government to advance that
relationship and to work on a number of issues of common interest.
Here again, it is our interest to further deepen that strategic
partnership, and we hope that, you know, in the coming year you’ll
continue to see even more progress. On occasion, again, we will talk
about some issues where perhaps there are some differences of opinion,
but I think overall the relationship is absolutely excellent. The
president has enjoyed meeting both President Abdullah Gul and Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and I fully anticipate that they will
continue to have contacts," he said.
Replying to a question about the issues which they did not have any
agreement, Hammer told reporters, "I didn’t mean to imply in any way
that there’s tension. It’s just that with a number of countries —
depending on what country you come from, there’s always going to be
some issue that perhaps we don’t see eye to eye or where there’s a bit
of friction. I mean, sometimes human rights issues might come to the
fore."
"In fact, there are more issues that we agree on than we disagree on.
One that I would highlight where we’re working together obviously is
on Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and the efforts that are being put
forward there. And we want to be supportive of that. So And the United
States, you know, in accordance with our values and our principles,
will raise those issues," he added.
Saturday, 23 January 2010
A.A