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Turkish President Abdullah Gul, right, welcomes U.S. President Barack Obama at the presidential palace in Ankara on Monday.
(AP)
Last update - 15:09 06/04/2009
Obama's agenda in Turkey: Iran, Israel and terrorism
By Reuters
Tags: Obama, Muslim, Israel News 

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.
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It is the last leg of his eight-day 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 criticized 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 neighbors.

He is also to meet Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and and will deliver an address to parliament in Ankara on Monday.

Obama's motorcade got plenty of friendly waves from small groups along a route from the international airport to the city centre lined with security personnel. A few people waved tiny Turkish flags. Bush got a mostly indifferent response from the public in visits to the Muslim world.

Turkey will not be the venue for Obama's promised major speech in a Muslim capital, but his April 5-7 trip will be a way to emphasize his message of reaching out to Muslims.

Obama will stress Washington's support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union despite opposition from some member states. Obama urged EU leaders in Prague earlier on Sunday to accept Turkey as a full member of the 27-nation bloc, in remarks rejected outright by France and met coolly by Germany.

Turkish entry talks with the EU have been held up by European concerns over human rights, a perceived lack of progress on reforms, and by a long territorial dispute with EU member Cyprus. Turkey has pledged several times to press on with EU reforms, and membership is seen many years off at best.

In Istanbul, Obama will attend a reception of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, co-hosted by Turkey and Spain to bridge the gap between Western and Islamic countries.


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      1.   Indeed Obama you`re the President of the world 22:27  |  Serenity 05/04/09
      2.   US Policy On Everything 22:28  |  crlman 05/04/09
      3.   What an incomparable arrogant ass 22:42  |  Lynn 05/04/09
      4.   My oh My -- I bet the anti peace crowd are "niorvus". 2 nd try 22:46  |  Labhras 05/04/09
      5.   Turkey is not just a muslim country;it is a country of different 22:52  |  glenna 05/04/09
      6.   Turkey is not ready yet to join 23:03  |  American 05/04/09
      7.   #1 Say Cupcake, Lynn, "arrogant ass" 23:12  |  ballistic 05/04/09
      8.   .Obama in Turkey 23:30  |  The Teacher/Instruct 05/04/09
      9.   Muslim Countries should form their own market! 00:23  |  Jack 06/04/09
      10.   above 00:46  |  moishe 06/04/09
      11.   #1 Lynn, that always has been US policy 00:49  |  Mark B. 06/04/09
      12.   Turkey is not ready yet 01:02  |  Mark B. 06/04/09
      13.   Why no stop in Israel? 01:11  |  sam 06/04/09
      14.   Turkey and the West 01:24  |  American 06/04/09
      15.   #4 The Teacher/Instruct, never say never 01:45  |  Mark B. 06/04/09
      16.   jack,they would starve to death if they did! 02:47  |  watch and see 06/04/09
      17.   #7 But we don`t support what you are doing! 03:12  |  janet 06/04/09
      18.   To #1 03:29  |  Frank 06/04/09
      19.   Obama 05:14  |  darrell 06/04/09
      20.   # 6 Mark B...please do not tell me 05:59  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      21.   Mark B 06:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/04/09
      22.   To darrell #11 `Obama` 07:14  |  Colin Wright 06/04/09
      23.   #1, Lynn 07:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/04/09
      24.   #12, Lynn 07:31  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/04/09
      25.   bravo Obama! 08:08  |  astar 06/04/09
      26.   ONCE AGAIN, SPAIN 10:33  |  indrajaya 06/04/09
      27.   Turkey in EU. 11:26  |  JBT 06/04/09
      28.   Turkey to EU? 11:27  |  Anne 06/04/09
      29.   Kohn 11:35  |  Natallie Durson 06/04/09
      30.   Turkey compared to Israel 11:39  |  Natallie Durson 06/04/09
      31.   Olly.B.Bama 12:29  |  Beggar 06/04/09
      32.   # 31, BEGGAR 12:50  |  indrajaya 06/04/09
      33.   Obama maybe our last hope 12:51  |  Dennis Slapo 06/04/09
      34.   Headline wrong, again 13:00  |  Axel 06/04/09
      35.   Olly.B.Bama 13:41  |  Beggar 06/04/09
      36.   To Natallie 13:57  |  Yosi 06/04/09
      37.   # 23 Cipora JK......it isn`t on the MSM, but the blogs 14:11  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      38.   # 33 Dennis Slapo....it`s called "acting" 14:36  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      39.   Axel # 34 The Separation Of Church And State 14:41  |  Jeff Northridge 06/04/09
      40.   Lynn.#37/#20 Obeisant Obama? 14:48  |  Roo 06/04/09
      41.   #7 Wormwood...I would rather be right 14:50  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      42.   #12 Mark B.....part of the non-membership 14:55  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      43.   to Jeff Northridge, non-muslims should read this 14:57  |  Cuneyt Gurcan Akcora 06/04/09
      44.   # 39 jeff 14:59  |  Axel 06/04/09
      45.   Turkey should accept EU on conditions that they 15:02  |  17 06/04/09
      46.   #40 Roo....what is problematic is any American Pres 15:04  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      47.   # 43 Akcora....so, Islam stole from Turkey? 15:09  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      48.   Payback time - No help from Israel re. EU or Armenian genocide! 15:47  |  Kenny 06/04/09
      49.   # 41, LYNN 15:49  |  indrajaya 06/04/09
      50.   #21 Hey Cipora, Israel has and contiues doing 15:58  |  ballistic 06/04/09
      51.   #23 Hey Cipora, 16:00  |  ballistic 06/04/09
      52.   Turkey and EU.. 16:01  |  circiassian 06/04/09
      53.   Obama`s Appeasement Policy Is Going To Backfire 16:03  |  Jeff Northridge 06/04/09
      54.   Michalle Obama insults Turkey by avoiding 16:22  |  Jewish Turk 06/04/09
      55.   Cuneyt Gurcan Akcora # 43 That Could Be, But... 16:24  |  Jeff Northridge 06/04/09
      56.   #1 Serenity 16:32  |  John Allen 06/04/09
      57.   Turkey`s double game 17:05  |  American 06/04/09
      58.   Michelle Obama didn`t curtsey for the Queen 17:33  |  Peter Williams 06/04/09
      59.   # 47 INDY...he is now going to take control 18:04  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      60.   Cuneyt Gurcan Akcora # 43 18:29  |  David Israel 06/04/09
      61.   Lynn # 38 19:04  |  Dennis Slapo 06/04/09
      62.   Obama`s acceptance 19:43  |  davidson county 06/04/09
      63.   Meaning of Obama speach!! 19:48  |  Yosi 06/04/09
      64.   #37, Lynn 20:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 06/04/09
      65.   # 49 Hey Wormwood...how many Obama appointees 20:36  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      66.   American # 6 re Turkey & NATO wrong 20:42  |  American in NY 06/04/09
      67.   INDY...yes, he has harmed my country 20:46  |  Lynn 06/04/09
      68.   American # 54 re turkey 20:48  |  American in NY 06/04/09
      69.   "we`re not -- nor have we ever been -- at war with Muslims" 21:08  |  Linda Wenrick 06/04/09
      70.   Northridge --take your complaints to the security Council 21:40  |  Labhras 06/04/09
      71.   Jeff Northridge `Going To Backfire` ?! #51 22:57  |  Roo 06/04/09
      72.   Jeff Northridge `Going To Backfire` ?! #51 00:29  |  Roo 07/04/09
      73.   Turkey and EU? 00:52  |  James 07/04/09
      74.   Jeff Northridge `Going To Backfire` ?! #51 01:33  |  Roo 07/04/09
      75.   The alliance between Turkey & US was the result of the Cold War 02:03  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      76.   Jeff Northridge `Going To Backfire` ?! #51 02:08  |  Roo 07/04/09
      77.   Jeff Northridge `Going To Backfire` ?! #51 02:11  |  Roo 07/04/09
      78.   #53 Turkish flag 02:47  |  Deniz 07/04/09
      79.   Deniz and Cuneyt 05:44  |  David Israel 07/04/09
      80.   Her Britannic Majesty 07:43  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/04/09
      81.   It is definitely none on Obama`s business 09:44  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 07/04/09
      82.   James is wrong 09:51  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 07/04/09
      83.   # 56, LYNN 10:03  |  indrajaya 07/04/09
      84.   about the turkish flag 10:55  |  Cuneyt Gurcan Akcora 07/04/09
      85.   to LYNN 11:26  |  JBT 07/04/09
      86.   @James 12:08  |  Ünal 07/04/09
      87.   indrajaya you nailed it 12:28  |  Roo 07/04/09
      88.   indrajaya you nailed it 13:14  |  Roo 07/04/09
      89.   indrajaya you nailed it 14:33  |  Roo 07/04/09
      90.   Jean-Paul Doguet - Some facts about the Diyanet 15:45  |  David Israel 07/04/09
      91.   David Israel, Curiosity 16:13  |  Persian Kitty 07/04/09
      92.   More figures for James and David 16:36  |  Jean-Paul Doguet 07/04/09
      93.   Persian Kitty 18:16  |  David Israel 07/04/09
      94.   James - Turkey and Cyprus 18:57  |  David Israel 07/04/09
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