Relations with U.S. likely to remain upbeat, Turkish diplomat says

WASHINGTON (A.A) - December 21, 2011 - Relations between Turkey and the United States will remain positive, Turkey's ambassador in Washington has predicted. "The Arab Spring had made a very good impact on relations and as long as it kept staying high on the agenda, our relations with the U.S. will continue in this positive fashion," Namik Tan told the Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview. Tan said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Barack Obama had held over a dozen conversations about the Arab Spring, adding that the Obama administration sincerely valued what he said "Turkey's principled and honorable policy." "This is why Obama gives credit to Turkey's stance, and our prime minister's opinions and suggestions," Tan said.    Tan said Turkey had made an unprecedented example for other Muslim nations in the world with its unique ability to promote co-existence of democracy, modernity as well as secularism, free market and a parliamentarian system. "The role Turkey has played in the handling of the Arab Spring did not go unnoticed by the U.S. which continues to exert efforts to boost relations in the context of the challenges of the Arab Spring," Tan said.  Tan said 2012 could be "a year for major opportunities" to achieve further progress specifically in economic relations as well as for high level visits between the two countries.             Tan, however, warned that relations could also see occasional setbacks as domestic political concerns could prompt congressional moves over Ottoman era incidents of 1915, minorities and relations between Turkey and Israel.      "There are certain groups in the Congress who are in endless opposition against Turkey and they are united as if they form league in the face of Turkey's increasing power," Tan said.