US wants ‘strong, democratic’ Turkey

Erdogan pressing Trump to hand over Gulen

ISTANBUL: The United States is committed to helping Turkey be strong but also democratic despite differences on key policy issues, the US ambassador said on Thursday ahead of face-to-face talks next month between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Donald Trump.

Relations between the United States and Turkey were bedevilled by a series of disputes over Syria and the failed July 15 coup under former president Barack Obama, although Ankara is hopeful for better ties under Trump.

Media in Turkey allied to Erdogan and even ministers have on occasion charged the US with meddling in the country and of even aiding last year’s failed coup, which Washington has vehemently denied.

"It is manifestly in our national interest for Turkey to be strong, peaceful, prosperous and democratic," US Ambassador to Ankara John Bass said in a speech to the Atlantic Council Istanbul summit.

"There are obviously some challenges to helping everyone in this society achieve that reality in the future -- (and) we have got some differences."

But he said how "we deal with those differences, realise those goals by working more closely together and pulling in the same direction... is an essential piece of what we do in diplomacy."

Trump surprised many observers by congratulating Erdogan on his win on April 16 in a referendum that some fear will hand him one man rule. The European Union and even the US State Department were more circumspect in their response.

A key issue when Erdogan holds talks with Trump in the United States in mid-May will be Syria, after Washington expressed deep concern over Turkish air strikes on Tuesday on a Kurdish militia that is a US ally in the fight against Islamic State jihadists.

Meanwhile, Erdogan is pressing Trump to hand over Fethullah Gulen, the Pennsylvania-based preacher blamed for the failed putsch.

"For very understandable reasons these differences draw a lot of attention," said Bass.

"All of that attention obscures a deeper reality -- that we all need each other and we are stronger when we work together and pull in the same direction."

"You might not see this based on press coverage -- but it remains the truth United States wants Turkey to succeed," said Bass.