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War, War, War See other War, War, War Articles Title: Obama: 'US not at war with Islam' Al Jazeera and agencies Obama: 'US not at war with Islam' Obama said Turkey and the US must seek common ground to address regional challenges [Reuters] During his first visit to a Muslim nation, Barack Obama, the US president, has said the US "is not and will never be at war with Islam''. In an address to the Turkish parliament in Ankara on Monday, he called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world. Obama described Turkey as an important US ally in the fight against terrorism, the war in Afghanistan and the Middle East peace process. The comments came shortly after private talks between him and Abdullah Gul, the Turkish president. In what was the first address given to the Turkish parliament by a US president since Bill Clinton in 1996, Obama said: "Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not at war with Islam ... if we are joined together in delivering that message East and West, to the world, I think we can have an extraordinary impact." "America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaeda" Barack Obama, US President He said: "America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al-Qaeda. "We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect." Obama said he is committed to renewing the alliance and friendship "between our people". Al Jazeera's Anita McNaught, reporting from Istanbul, said: "This was the address we had all been waiting for, it hit all the right notes. "He talked about the contribution of the Islamic faith in the life of American Muslims and then he personalised that message by saying 'I know because I am one of them'. It was a message that reached out to many today. "Of course it needs to be followed up by actions and by discernible policy changes." Armenian question Obama sought to strike a balance over the issue of the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, a sensitive issue which has poisoned ties between the two allies before. There were protests across the country preceding Obama's visit [AFP] Turkey accepts that many Christian Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks during World War I but denies that up to 1.5 million people died as a result. Obama said that while his views on a resolution calling the killing of Armenians "genocide" had not changed, he wanted negotiations between Turkey and Armenia aimed at restoring diplomatic relations to bear fruits. He praised Turkey for pursuing "difficult political reforms" and pressed Turkey to open borders with Armenia. "[Open borders] would provide for a peaceful and prosperous coexistence" that would serve both countries, he said. "[Armenia] was the big stumbling block on this trip and the major source of anxiety, certainly for Turkey" Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera Our correspondent said: "Obama at this point has agreed to butt out of publicly making any attempts to resolve relations between Turkey and Armenia. This was the big stumbling block on this trip and the major source of anxiety, certainly for Turkey." Earlier in the day Obama and Gul discussed a number of issues of mutual national concern, including the threat of nuclear proliferation. Obama regretted that relations between Turkey and the US had been defined by military and national security terms for far too long. 'Strong foundation' Obama pledged continued co-operation with Gul in building on "what is really a strong foundation" with Turkey. He will wrap up his visit in Turkey by meeting religious leaders, touring historical sites and holding a round-table meeting with university students. Obama called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world [Reuters] He is also scheduled to attend a reception of the Alliance of Civilisations, a forum which aims to foster dialogue between the West and the Muslim world. The Turkish authorities have taken unprecedented security measures in view of Obama's visit. A street leading to the hotel where he is staying has been blocked off. Military jets and police helicopters were instructed to patrol Ankara's skies. There were huge protests preceding Obama's visit across many Turkish cities. The protesters said he was seeking to pressure Turkey to deploy troops in Afghanistan in an effort to control the situation there. "By co-operating with Turkey, the US can achieve what it intends to do in the Middle East, easier and better" Yaser Yakis, AK party member Yaser Yakis, a member of Turkey's ruling AK party and a former foreign minister, told Al Jazeera: "We believe that Turkey has every reason to be satisfied with Obama's visit and the message he gave to the Turkish public and to the Islamic world from Ankara. "We got the impression that he listened to what President Gul told him. Regarding the Iraq question, Turkey expects more advanced co-operation in fighting PKK terrorism." By co-operating with Turkey, Yakis said, "the US can achieve what it intends to do in the Middle East, easier and better ... Turkey can play a role as far as soft power is concerned, to be in good terms with both Israelis and Arabs and this is an advantage because we have a better understanding of the mentality in the Middle East". Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
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