Obama Supports Turkey EU Membership Efforts

World | April 6, 2009, Monday // 11:38
Turkey Obama Supports Turkey EU Membership Efforts: Obama Supports Turkey EU Membership Efforts Photo by hurriyetusa.com

US President Barack Obama has begun a two-day visit to Turkey to meet Turkish leaders in an effort to revitalise ties between the two countries.

Obama made a visit to the mausoleum of modern Turkey's founder, Ataturk, praising his "vision and courage", the BBC reported Monday.

En route to Ankara, Obama said he supported the country's efforts to join the European Union. He stated Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it in Europe.

Before travelling to Turkey, Obama participated in a NATO gathering in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the alliance's next leader.

Turkey had misgivings about Rasmussen over his refusal to apologise for the "cartoons controversy", in which a Danish newspaper published illustrations that inflamed passions in much of the Muslim world.

But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday that Obama's support had helped to resolve concerns.

"He put forth a lot of positive energy," Erdogan said. "We responded positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept."

Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone over Ankara. Almost 9 000 police will be deployed for Mr Obama's visit to Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, which begins late on Monday.

 

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Tags: Obama, turkey, NATO, EU

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