ANKARA - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that Turkey was a strategic ally country with the United States, noting that nobody should overshadow those relations.
Gul responded to the questions during his return from Iran, which is the last stop of his tour covering five countries.
Gul evaluated a statement of former U.S. Ambassador Mark Parris in a newspaper. Parris said if the Turkish Government fails to take place near the United States soon regarding Iraqi issue, it would be unable to find an interlocutor in the White House when it tries to find help from the United States.
Stating that Turkey's relations with the United States were wide and deep, Gul said Turkey was a strategic ally country for the United States, and that this would continue. Gul said nobody should involve in efforts to damage and overshadow those relations.
Gul said that Turkey was in cooperation with the United States in many issues and that the two countries cooperated in fight against terrorism.
''We have troops in Afghanistan and Turkey has undertaken the command and ensured security of Kabul. Turkish soldiers are exerting utmost efforts in peace preservation efforts in many places in Europe,'' Gul noted.
Gul said, ''Turkey's contributions to reconnaissance force is obvious. Also, contacts among official institutions continue in several levels. I would like everybody to read U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell's previous day statements. He clearly stated how Turkey's contributions and efforts are appreciated.''
''Nobody should overshadow our relations. Those who know history of diplomacy knows well the negative effect of such mistakes on people,'' Gul added.