WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Tuesday that her country is closely following the closure case against Turkey`s ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party.
Speaking at 27th annual conference of American-Turkish Council in Washington, Rice said, "the United States hopes this (closure case) will be decided within Turkey`s secular democratic context, and by secular democratic principals."
Regarding lifting isolations on Turkish Cypriots, Rice said that there is more hope in Cyprus now. She added that tough decisions are needed to be made and there is a political resistance in both parties. Rice said that the United States would do its best regarding the issue.
Rice described Turkey as a very important and strategic partner for the U.S.
She said that the U.S. sees PKK terrorist organization as the common enemy of the U.S., Turkey and Iraq.
Rice said that the goal of U.S. together with European partners is to eradicate PKK from the north of Iraq as well as cut criminal and financial connections of the terrorist organization.
Rice also said that Turkey has eight percent of world`s oil reserves which makes it have a strategic location.
She said that the U.S. is encouraging Turkey to acknowledge and protect civilian rights of all religious and ethnical groups. She said that one of these is re-opening of Heybeliada Seminary.
(GC)