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Obama asks Turkey to help heal Islam's rift with the West
Ed Harris6 Apr 2009
Barack Obama today said that Turkey and the US could build a "model partnership" between a largely Christian nation and a predominantly Muslim country.
Speaking in the capital Ankara, the US president said he was looking towards America's ally to help bridge the divide between Muslim nations and the West.
At a news conference with President Abdullah Gul, Mr Obama said he wanted to build on "what is already a strong foundation" with Turkey.
Relations between the two countries had for too long been defined on mostly military and national security terms, he said. But the US and Turkey must also work together on the global economic crisis. He added that he and Mr Gul were "very clear that terrorism is not acceptable under any circumstances".
Mr Obama said he stood by his assertion last year that Ottoman Turks carried out widespread killings of Armenians early in the 20th century.
But he stopped short of repeating the word "genocide". Mr Obama said: "Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views."
Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks in the years leading up to and during the First World War, an event viewed by many scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies genocide, claiming the death toll has been inflated and the casualties were victims of civil war and unrest.
"The Armenian genocide is not an allegation, a personal opinion or a point of view, but rather a widely documented fact supported by an overwhelming body of historical evidence," Mr Obama said in January last year.
Turkey often felt ignored under the administration of George Bush and Mr Obama wants its help in his troop pullout from Iraq, winning the Afghanistan war and blocking Iran's nuclear ambitions. "Welcome Mr President," said Hurriyet newspaper. "You've arrived in a country which is a friend of the United States. It is time to repair the broken hearts."
The president has backed Turkey as an EU member state, not least as a positive message to the Muslim world.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy opposes the idea and German Chancellor Angela Merkel says close ties with Ankara did not necessarily mean full membership of the EU.
Reader views (7)
How dare he make decisions for Europe...isn't it up to Europe to make a decision on that one and I pray they make the right one as this is not good news at all.
- Sarah, London, 07/04/2009 11:13
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- Mark, Manchester UK
I agree completely.
There is a battle of cultures currently happening within Turkey now, it would be madness to give full membership to Turkey.
I notice Obama has offered Turkey full membership on behalf of the EU. I think the EU should make Mexico the 51st State of America.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 07/04/2009 09:16
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How ludicrous.
Turkey is a more secular coutnry than the UK - religion is separated from the State - unlike the UK - where the state and the CofE are intertwined. the comments above are more to do with pure anti-muslim bigotry.
Lets think about it: the Germans killed 6m jews and still managed to get into Europe. The french killed millions of Algerians - and are in europe.
The serbians who launched a genocidal campaign against bosnian and croats on mainland europe within living memory are being prepared for EU entry.
So murdering serbs are ok?
- Paul Smith, London, 07/04/2009 09:07
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Turkey must NOT be allowed to join the EU. It is less secular and increasing islamic, as the election of pro islam president Abdullah Gül demonstrates.
Add to that the lifting of the ban on wearing the headscarf and the resurgence of hardline islamic social justice and it is clear that Turkey is heading down a dark path, one that Europe must not be dragged along.
The fact is that with every wave of immigration the muslim population takes on a more anti western, pro islamic stance as immigrants bring hardline attitudes with them, spreading their influence among the existing muslim communities. This has resulted in the formation of ghettoes throughout every country in the EU that has a muslim population - even in countries as liberal and tolerant as Denmark.
It is within these expanding ghettoes that fundamentalist practices of female circumcision, honor killings and forced marriages are rapidly rising. If Turkey joined the EU, it is estimated that around 10-12 million Turks would flood into the EU, effectively doubling the muslim population overnight - exacerbating these problems ten fold.
- Mark, Manchester UK, 06/04/2009 21:11
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Is Obama now becoming delusional that he actually has taken over the world?
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK, 06/04/2009 18:30
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If the Turks with the help of the United States get into the EU. then Europe is finished.
- Mr S.Port, London, 06/04/2009 16:39
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Europe cannot 'afford' Turkey.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/04/2009 16:35
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