OBAMA HOLDS TALKS IN TURKEY

Barack Obama, the US president, has begun talks with senior Turkish officials aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Washington and Ankara.
Obama, who is in Ankara on the last leg of an eight-day European tour, is scheduled to address the Turkish parliament.
Obama's two-day visit to Turkey is his first trip to a Muslim country as US president.
"I look forward to strengthening relations between the United States and Turkey and supporting [the founder of modern Turkey- Mustafa Kemal] Ataturk's vision of Turkey," Obama wrote in the memorial book at Ataturk's mausoleum where he laid a wreath ahead of official talks.
In the talks, Obama is expected to try to sell his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which includes proposals to counter a persistent Taliban and al-Qaeda campaign.
Obama will also "reaffirm US support of Turkey's bid to become a member of the EU", a US official said.

While Turkey has been long regarded as a close US ally in the Muslim world, some analysts believe there has been a cooling of ties during the administration of George Bush, the former US president.

Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught in Istanbul, said: "What everyone wants to hear is how Obama will define new US ties with Turkey, because they are concerned that instability in Iraq may increase as the US pulls back, which could make Iraq their problem.
France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU. Others in the organisation have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.

Courtesy: Al Jazeera