Secretary Clinton Reinforces Turkish-U.S. Alliance,
Announces President Obama Visit

Secretary Clinton Lays Wreath at Tomb of Turkish Republic’s Founder. Photo credit: US Department of State

Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Babacan pledge to continue strong bonds of alliance, solidarity and strategic partnership.

March 9, 2009 - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travelled to Ankara on March 7 and met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, wrapping up her week-long trip to five countries in the region.

In addition to declaring that the relationship between the U.S. and Turkey “is one of alliance, partnership and friendship,” Secretary Clinton also announced that President Barack Obama will travel to Turkey “within the next month or so,” which will be his first visit as President to the country.

In a joint statement that reflects the broad range of issues they discussed in meetings, Minister Babacan and Secretary Clinton reiterated their determination to continue close cooperation and consultation on all issues of common concern. They reaffirmed their determination to diversify the broad-based bilateral relations particularly between the Turkish and American people.

Appearing with with Secretary Clinton as part of a press availability, Minister Babacan said, “Turkey and the United States defend the same values and work to disseminate those values to all four corners of the world: democracy, human rights, freedoms, rule of law, free market economy.”

The meetings in Ankara followed President Obama’s phone conversations with both President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan in mid-February, and another official visit, at the end of February, by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, who met with President Gül and other Government officials.

Source: Embassy Notes, 3/9/2009