Obama’s Turkey visit message in itself, Gül
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daıly News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 11, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - The new U.S. administration has taken a fresh angle on its global outlook and its messages to the world, the Turkish president said yesterday.
At a press conference prior to his departure for Iran, where he will attend a summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization, President Gül was asked if Ankara could be the venue for a speech Obama is supposed to deliver to bridge ties with the Muslim world.
"If you establish a connection in that sense, his visit to Ankara is a message in itself. It is a fact that this visit is very important for both the United States and for us. Just as the United States is dealing with a number of issues facing the world, Turkey is also dealing with them especially in our own region," Gül said.
Date not set yet
Bilateral relations would also be discussed considering that ties with Washington are one of the most important pillars of Turkish foreign policy, he said. The exact timing of the visit is still vague and Gül said consultations with U.S. officials were under way to fix its scope.
The trip by Gül and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to Tehran, after their talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the weekend, has roused speculation on whether or not Ankara has a message to convey from Washington to Iranian officials. Babacan earlier dismissed that he would pass on any message but said Turkey would consider serving as a mediator between Iran and the United States.
'Do not miss the opportunity'
Yesterday Gül said he would share views with the Tehran administration in a sincere, honest and transparent way like in the past. Cengiz Çandar, columnist for Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review accompanying the president en route to Iran, said the president would tell Iranian officials not to "miss the opportunity," stemming from the positive climate the Obama administration is spreading.
Meanwhile, Gül will not visit a northern Iraqi city during his planned trip to neighboring Iraq scheduled for this month, private channel CNNTürk reported, adding that the Turkish president will visit only Baghdad.
"If you establish a connection in that sense, his visit to Ankara is a message in itself. It is a fact that this visit is very important for both the United States and for us. Just as the United States is dealing with a number of issues facing the world, Turkey is also dealing with them especially in our own region," Gül said.
Date not set yet
Bilateral relations would also be discussed considering that ties with Washington are one of the most important pillars of Turkish foreign policy, he said. The exact timing of the visit is still vague and Gül said consultations with U.S. officials were under way to fix its scope.
The trip by Gül and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to Tehran, after their talks with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the weekend, has roused speculation on whether or not Ankara has a message to convey from Washington to Iranian officials. Babacan earlier dismissed that he would pass on any message but said Turkey would consider serving as a mediator between Iran and the United States.
'Do not miss the opportunity'
Yesterday Gül said he would share views with the Tehran administration in a sincere, honest and transparent way like in the past. Cengiz Çandar, columnist for Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review accompanying the president en route to Iran, said the president would tell Iranian officials not to "miss the opportunity," stemming from the positive climate the Obama administration is spreading.
Meanwhile, Gül will not visit a northern Iraqi city during his planned trip to neighboring Iraq scheduled for this month, private channel CNNTürk reported, adding that the Turkish president will visit only Baghdad.