AK Party Deputy Chairman of External Affairs Suat KINIKLIOGLU appeared on the television program called “Dunyada Bugun” broadcasted on TRT INT on March 11, 2009 in which the visit of US President Barack Obama and Turkish – American relations were discussed.

KINIKLIOGLU noted that the AK Party is hopeful about Turkish – American relations in the new term and emphasized the importance of the Obama visit to Turkey being made as part of a European tour. Hence, the visit KINIKLIOGLU said “confirmed the European vocation of Turkey and reiterated Turkey’s regional and global significance”.

In relation to the withdrawal of US soldiers from Iraq which was included in the agenda of President Obama’s visit, KINIKLIOGLU said “The important issue here is not to damage the relative stability that was established in Iraq by the withdrawal of US soldiers. We do not want to threaten the territorial and political integrity of Iraq as a result of such a withdrawal. On the other hand, as is widely known, in the past some US weapons made it into the hands of some terrorist organizations. This was one of the topics we raised during our visit to the US last week. Such weaponry and equipment should not to be passed on to undesirable elements in Iraq. Therefore, the withdrawal needs to be planned appropriately. I guess the technical discussions of this process will be initiated in the near future between the armed forces and foreign ministries of the two countries.”