Officials said Obama regards Erdogan as one of the president's leading
allies in the Islamic world. They said the administration viewed the
referendum as a reaffirmation of Turkish democracy and government control of
the military.
On Sept. 14, the British daily Daily Telegraph reported that Iran has
agreed to donate up to $25 million to Erdogan's Justice and Development
Party, Middle East Newsline reported. The newspaper said Iran, in negotiations with Erdogan himself, has
pledged to donate $12 million to the ruling Turkish party, with an
additional $13 million to be relayed later in 2010. Turkey has denied the
report.
Congress has been examining Turkey's alliance with neighboring Iran and
Syria. House and Senate leaders were said to have blocked Turkish weapons
requests from Washington after Ankara's vote against proposed United
Nations Security Council sanctions in June 2010.
In contrast, the administration has supported Erdogan's drive to
eliminate the military's influence on the Turkish government as well as
civilian life. Officials said the prime minister's effort was serving as a
model for Islamic democracy.
"We hope that through these reforms, it will further enhance Turkey's
democratic processes and human rights protection," State Department
spokesman Philip Crowley said. "This was a choice for the Turkish people,
and there was a very strong, decisive vote to move towards greater civilian
oversight of these democratic institutions."
ShareThis
