US President Barack Obama and Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came together at the White House on Monday for discussions on differing tacks of the international agenda.
The Turkish delegation was welcomed by Chief of Protocol of the United States Capricia Penavic Marshall at the White House. Premier Erdogan signed the White House private ledger in the Roosevelt Room and then leaders kicked off their eagerly anticipated meeting.
The Turkish delegation comprised of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, State Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis, Minister of Public Works Mustafa Demir, Second Chief of General Staff Aslan Güner, AK Party's Deputy Chairman Kürsad Tüzmen and Turkish ambassador to the United States Nabi Sensoy.
On the US side, attendants were US Vice President Joe Biden, National Security Advisor James Jones and his Deputy Tom Donilon, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip H. Gordon.
Following the nearly two-hour meeting, leaders made a joint statement. The two also had a private meeting.
Prime Minister Erdogan pledged that Turkey will do whatever it can to resolve disputes over Iran's controversial nuclear program. President Obama expressed his belief that "Turkey can be an important player in trying to move Iran in that direction."
The leaders also raised the sensitive issue of terrorism. President Obama said that Turkey and the United States are determined to defeat terrorism "regardless of where it occurs" and passed condolences over the recent terrorist attack in Turkey.
Barack Obama also thanked Erdogan and the Turkish people for their commitments which contributed to stability in Afghanistan. Turkey undertook the rotating command of the NATO peacekeeping operation in Kabul last month and more than doubled the number of troops from 700 to 1,750. Before leaving for Washington, Erdogan remarked that Turkey has already dispatched the necessary number of troops to the country and Turkish officials will continue with health, education and infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.
US President Barack Obama stressed that Turkey will make significant contribution to the world peace.