Turkey watches closely U.S. policy on ArmeniaFebruary 17, 2009 - 13:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President Barack Obama has told Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan he hopes to strengthen ties with their country and expressed support for Turkey's growing relationship with Iraq, the White House said on Monday.Obama spoke to the two men by phone earlier in the day. "In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues, including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship, the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," the White House said in a statement. Turkey has repeatedly attacked hideouts of Kurdish rebels in the northern mountainous region of Iraq. The White House said Obama emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Turkey alliance and expressed his desire to work on a "broad agenda" of mutual strategic interest. "The President emphasized his desire to strengthen U.S.-Turkish relations and to work together effectively in NATO," the statement said, the IHT reports. Meanwhile, the statement issued by the Turkish government says that Turkey watches closely the U.S. policy toward Armenia and Middle East and "hopes for a fair approach that will not damage the U.S.-Turkish relations." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute petition seeks release of Armenians in Azerbaijan The Lemkin Institute is deeply concerned about the continued illegal detention of political prisoners from Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. |