Turkey strongly condemns remarks made by Texas Governor Perry

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesperson on Tuesday strongly condemned the remarks made by a Republican candidate for nomination, the Texas Governor Rick Perry, on Turkey. In response to a question, the Spokesman for the Turkish MFA, Selcuk Unal, said Tuesday that candidates for the U.S. Presidency, a position that necessitates responsibility, are expected to be more knowledgable about the world and be more sensitive in their remarks. Turkey strongly condemned the remarks of Rick Perry made in South Carolina on Monday night, remarks that were baseless and inappropriate, Unal stressed. "Turkey has become a NATO member when Governor Perry was two years old. Turkey is one of the countries that has contributed most to the Transatlantic Alliance and will remain so. Turkey is among the countries in the forefront in global counter-terrorism. Turkey is a co-chair of the Global Forum on Counter-terrorism with the United States. Our leaders are characters that receive respect globally and whose views are listened to," Unal said. The U.S. does not have time to lose with names who do not even know an ally of the U.S., Unal added. Governor Perry made negative remarks on Turkey on a TV program on Monday night. Perry implied that Turkey's NATO membership should be questioned and that the U.S. should end all forms of aid to Turkey.