transcript

The President's address to the Turkish parliament

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LISA MULLINS: Barack Obama sent his condolences to the families of the earthquake victims today. He's in Turkey today, the first Muslim-majority country Mr. Obama has visited as President. He emphasized in a speech before the Turkish Parliament in Ankara that America is not at war with Islam, and he called for more cooperation between the United States and the Muslim world. Mr. Obama said that's how to defeat Al Qaeda – though he added that opposition to Islamic extremism should not be the basis of America's relationship with Muslims. The President then flew to Istanbul, Turkey, where The World's Aaron Schachter filed this report.

AARON SCHACHTER: Turkey's government has tried recently to shake the country's image as a mere “bridge between east and west”. That cliché may be true, but Turkish officials find it demeaning. They want world leaders to consider Turkey an indispensable global player. President Obama told the Turkish Parliament today that he already does.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Turkey is a critical ally. Turkey is an important part of Europe, and Turkey and the United States must stand together and work together to overcome the challenges of our time.

SCHACHTER: Online columnists here are calling Mr. Obama's speech and visit historic. One even said it borders on miraculous, considering it wasn't long ago that the United States was widely disliked here. Two years ago, Turks gave the US a paltry 9 percent approval rating. That was the lowest in the Muslim World. Many patrons here in the Hakan Pastanesi Restaurant went about their business as usual during Mr. Obama's address, but a handful sipped their tea and coffee in front of a large-screen TV as they watched and listened to the President.

OBAMA: The United States and Turkey have not always agreed –
SCHACHTER: Most here were delighted by what they heard, starting with the President's tone. Ayten Tulgay is a retired teacher. She was at the cafe with her husband Ali Bulent Tulgay. Ayten Tulgay says, “There's no way you can compare Mr. Obama with his predecessor.” She says, “George W. Bush was obnoxious and tried to dictate to Turkey.” She says, “President Obama genuinely seems to care.” Her husband chimes in that Mr. Obama's speech showed him as more humanistic, more inclusive. All in all, they say, they're feeling positive about future relations with the US. Abdullah Shakar is the cafe's owner. He, too, is optimistic about the Obama presidency. But, Shakar says, he and his fellow Turks are also pragmatic.

SHAKAR: We agree with most of the things he said, but we need time to see whether he'll keep his promises. Since he comes from an oppressed group, like some of us, and won an historic election, we're willing to give him some time.

SCHACHTER: One thing that pulled Shakar from his reverie was the part of the speech when Mr. Obama seemed to wag a finger at Tehran.

OBAMA: We want them to engage in the economic and political integration that brings prosperity and security. But Iran's leaders must choose whether they will try to build a weapon or build a better future for their people.

SCHACHTER: Cafe owner Abdullah Shakar says there Mr. Obama sounded an awful lot like George W. Bush. President Obama did make a point of not criticizing Turkey over its conduct during the First World War. The US Congress is again attempting to pass a resolution that would blame Turkey for genocide against Armenians in 1915. Cafe patron Yujel Karabachak says Mr. Obama deftly sidestepped the issue. Karabachak says he was pleased to hear the President say that Turkey and Armenia should deal with the issue, not politicians. He says he thinks the same way. Karabachak added, “Turks especially don't want to see resolutions from politicians outside the country.” Not everyone in Turkey today extended a warm welcome to Barack Obama. Hundreds of demonstrators marched through the capital Ankara to protest the visit. They held banners that told the President to go home, and they chanted anti-American slogans.

SCHACHTER: The President is scheduled to attend several events tomorrow here in Istanbul. He'll meet religious representatives, visit Ayasofya Museum and tour the famed Blue Mosque. For The World, I'm Aaron Schachter.

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