November 5, 2008 - 17:51 AMT
Sharon Wiener: Obama understands importance of Turkey as strategic ally and friend
The U.S. president-elect understands the importance of Turkey and the two countries would work together even more closely under the new administration, a high-level U.S. diplomat said.

"America cannot face the challenges alone and the next administration's partnership with Turkey will continue in the fight against the PKK and other terrorists, in building a democratic, secure and stable Iraq, in finding new energy resources and routes of supply and in promoting peace in the Middle East and other regions," U.S. Consul General in Ankara Sharon Wiener said.

She said Barack Obama understands the importance of Turkey as a strategic ally and a friend, in a bid to soothe concerns that a possible problematic period lay ahead in the relations of the two countries due to the Democratic new president's approach the Armenian Genocide.

"We will work together even more closely as Turkey has been elected to the United Nations Security Council," Wiener added, Hurriyet reports.