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TURKEY TO CAREFULLY WATCH NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION AFTER OBAMA'S WIN
Hurriyet
Nov 6 2008
Turkey
Turkish leaders Wednesday welcomed the election of America's first
African-American president, as a source of hope for peace in the
world. But the new administration's uncertain policies on a wide range
of issues, from the alleged "genocide" of Armenians to Iran and Iraq,
are a matter of curiosity for Ankara.
"Your message of change and hope meets today's expectations. Turkey
embraces this message," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in a
letter of congratulations he sent to U.S. President- elect Barack
Obama. The original version of the letter was aired on the web site
of the presidency on Wednesday.
The president highlighted the importance of Turkish-U.S. friendship,
based upon such universally accepted values as freedom, democracy and
human rights, and reiterated Turkey's resolve to improve the strategic
partnership with Washington, especially in the fight on terrorism.
The outgoing U.S. ambassador to Turkey praised the election as a,
"miracle of American democracy that a poor African-American, from a
broken family, could rise to become the leader of our country."
"That he could do so, less than 40 years after the great civil rights
struggle of America, is especially remarkable and it is a source of
great pride," said Ambassador Ross Wilson in brief remarks.
UNKNOWN FUTURE On Turkish-American relations, he underlined that
there were always changes from president to president, but also
great continuity.
"President after president has understood the importance of Turkey
to the United States and of the United States to Turkey. President
after president has engaged seriously and in a very sustained way
with Turkish leaders for decades," Wilson said.
But he added that he did not know what the future held.
"Like all of you, I look forward to seeing the movie that we will be
watching over the four years of the Obama administration. But I am
sure that we will remain friends and remain engaged and the close
bonds between our two countries will endure in many presidential
terms to follow."
The desire to reach the stars is ambitious but the desire to reach
hearts is wise. The election campaign in the United States has shown
that this is Obama's wisdom, said a member of a panel at the beginning
of a long night Tuesday in the Turkish capital.
The event was part of a traditional over-night election-watch at
the Turkish-American Association in Ankara. The morning heralded the
winner, the first black American leader in U.S. history.
"The American people have expressed their desire for change," said
Ambassador Wilson. Defeating his Republican rival, John McCain,
Democrat candidate, Obama, was elected as the 44th president of the
United States.
"The election result shows there is no longer a black-white problem
in the United States," said Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, describing
it as a turning point in American history.
But Obama-led policies, especially on the 1915 incidents, remain to
be seen.
Erdogan expressed belief that the statement Obama made during the
election campaign would remain election rhetoric. If elected president,
Obama had pledged to recognize the 1915 incidents.
The Turkish premier also said foreign ministry diplomats would seek
an opportunity to meet Obama during a visit to the United States next
week. Erdogan will attend an economic summit in Washington on Nov. 15,
when the current financial crisis, its causes and efforts to resolve
it will be discussed.
NEW LOBBY COMPANY Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal sent a letter of congratulation to Obama via the
U.S. Embassy in Ankara, said press reports.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Turkey changed its lobbying
company in the United States seven months ago, giving it to the
Democrats. The government refused to renew the contract with Republican
Bob Livingston last April, whose company had been lobbying against
Armenian "genocide" resolutions.
Analysts predicted Obama-led policies, especially on the Armenian
issue, could be risky for the future of Turkish-American ties but
admitted there was also room for optimism.
"Obama could inspire hope and confidence among Turks who turned
out to be one of the most anti-American nations during the Bush
administration," Sanli Bahadir Koc, expert at the Center for Eurasia
Studies, told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"Obama is a leader who deserves credit, but a crisis over the alleged
"genocide" could open deeper and irreparable wounds in bilateral ties,"
he warned. "Obama is a wise and realist leader but history is full
of mistakes made by such leaders."
Kamer Kasim of the International Strategic Research Organization said
he believed an Obama-led administration would engage in efforts to
repair the deteriorated image of the United States especially in the
Muslim world, following the Iraq war.
Hurriyet
Nov 6 2008
Turkey
Turkish leaders Wednesday welcomed the election of America's first
African-American president, as a source of hope for peace in the
world. But the new administration's uncertain policies on a wide range
of issues, from the alleged "genocide" of Armenians to Iran and Iraq,
are a matter of curiosity for Ankara.
"Your message of change and hope meets today's expectations. Turkey
embraces this message," Turkish President Abdullah Gul said in a
letter of congratulations he sent to U.S. President- elect Barack
Obama. The original version of the letter was aired on the web site
of the presidency on Wednesday.
The president highlighted the importance of Turkish-U.S. friendship,
based upon such universally accepted values as freedom, democracy and
human rights, and reiterated Turkey's resolve to improve the strategic
partnership with Washington, especially in the fight on terrorism.
The outgoing U.S. ambassador to Turkey praised the election as a,
"miracle of American democracy that a poor African-American, from a
broken family, could rise to become the leader of our country."
"That he could do so, less than 40 years after the great civil rights
struggle of America, is especially remarkable and it is a source of
great pride," said Ambassador Ross Wilson in brief remarks.
UNKNOWN FUTURE On Turkish-American relations, he underlined that
there were always changes from president to president, but also
great continuity.
"President after president has understood the importance of Turkey
to the United States and of the United States to Turkey. President
after president has engaged seriously and in a very sustained way
with Turkish leaders for decades," Wilson said.
But he added that he did not know what the future held.
"Like all of you, I look forward to seeing the movie that we will be
watching over the four years of the Obama administration. But I am
sure that we will remain friends and remain engaged and the close
bonds between our two countries will endure in many presidential
terms to follow."
The desire to reach the stars is ambitious but the desire to reach
hearts is wise. The election campaign in the United States has shown
that this is Obama's wisdom, said a member of a panel at the beginning
of a long night Tuesday in the Turkish capital.
The event was part of a traditional over-night election-watch at
the Turkish-American Association in Ankara. The morning heralded the
winner, the first black American leader in U.S. history.
"The American people have expressed their desire for change," said
Ambassador Wilson. Defeating his Republican rival, John McCain,
Democrat candidate, Obama, was elected as the 44th president of the
United States.
"The election result shows there is no longer a black-white problem
in the United States," said Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, describing
it as a turning point in American history.
But Obama-led policies, especially on the 1915 incidents, remain to
be seen.
Erdogan expressed belief that the statement Obama made during the
election campaign would remain election rhetoric. If elected president,
Obama had pledged to recognize the 1915 incidents.
The Turkish premier also said foreign ministry diplomats would seek
an opportunity to meet Obama during a visit to the United States next
week. Erdogan will attend an economic summit in Washington on Nov. 15,
when the current financial crisis, its causes and efforts to resolve
it will be discussed.
NEW LOBBY COMPANY Opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader
Deniz Baykal sent a letter of congratulation to Obama via the
U.S. Embassy in Ankara, said press reports.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Turkey changed its lobbying
company in the United States seven months ago, giving it to the
Democrats. The government refused to renew the contract with Republican
Bob Livingston last April, whose company had been lobbying against
Armenian "genocide" resolutions.
Analysts predicted Obama-led policies, especially on the Armenian
issue, could be risky for the future of Turkish-American ties but
admitted there was also room for optimism.
"Obama could inspire hope and confidence among Turks who turned
out to be one of the most anti-American nations during the Bush
administration," Sanli Bahadir Koc, expert at the Center for Eurasia
Studies, told the Hurriyet Daily News.
"Obama is a leader who deserves credit, but a crisis over the alleged
"genocide" could open deeper and irreparable wounds in bilateral ties,"
he warned. "Obama is a wise and realist leader but history is full
of mistakes made by such leaders."
Kamer Kasim of the International Strategic Research Organization said
he believed an Obama-led administration would engage in efforts to
repair the deteriorated image of the United States especially in the
Muslim world, following the Iraq war.