Bush: Turkish-US relations are very important strategical relations

WASHINGTON - U.S. President George W. Bush said, "Turkish-U.S. relations are very important strategical relations."
Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to reporters after their meeting on Wednesday and stressed the strategical partnership dimension of relations.
Bush told Erdogan how grateful he was that Erdogan is a strong supporter of the Broader Middle Eastern Initiative. He said, "Turkey's democracy is an important example for other Mideast nations," and he thanked Erdogan for Turkey's support in building democracy in Afghanistan.
Bush said that they took up foreign policy matters which concern Turkey and the United States, adding that the most important one was to form a Palestinian state which will coexist side by side with Israel in peace.
Bush said that Erdogan wanted more U.S. investments to be made in Turkey, adding that he would try to help in this regard.
On the other hand, Erdogan told reporters, "main issues we have discussed were freedom, human rights, democracy, security and fight against terrorism."
"We also took up Broader Middle Eastern Initiative as well as Cyprus, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine issues," added Erdogan.
Erdogan noted, "I told President Bush that Turkey, as a reliable and stable country, is open to U.S. investments. We are pleased that Bush is positive towards this issue."
Turkish FM Abdullah Gül, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, state minister Ali Babacan, Turkey's ambassador to USA Faruk Logoglu, U.S. Secretary of State Condelezza Rice, Bush's National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman also attended the meeting between two leaders.