ISTANBUL 鈥� Turkey鈥檚 president says mutual interests with the United States outweigh their differences and has called for more
In a video message late Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acknowledged that Turkish-American relations were 鈥渟eriously tested鈥� but stressed that their strategic partnership has 鈥渙vercome all kinds of difficulties.鈥�
Erdogan鈥檚 conciliatory tone follows his strongly worded accusations that the U.S. supported Kurdish militants, days after Turkish troops found the bodies of 13 Turkish hostages held by the Kurdistan Workers鈥� Party, or PKK in a cave complex in northern Iraq.
Ankara has been infuriated by American support for a Syrian Kurdish fighters in combatting the Islamic State group, saying they are linked to the decades-long Kurdish insurgency in southeastern Turkey that the U.S. also lists as terrorists.
Erdogan said Saturday the U.S. did not give Turkey the 鈥渄esired support and solidarity鈥� in fighting the PKK and linked groups, demanding a 鈥渃lear stance鈥� from Turkey鈥檚 allies.
He also repeated the frustration over the continued U.S. residency of Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric accused of orchestrating the bloody 2016 coup attempt. Turkey wants Gulen鈥檚 extradition. He denies the allegations of links to the attempted coup.
鈥淲e believe our common interests with America far outweigh our differing opinions,鈥� Erdogan said, adding that he wanted to strengthen relations through a 鈥渓ong-term perspective based on win-win.鈥�
Erdogan鈥檚 video message was aired during the launch of a Turkish television channel in the U.S.
The Associated Press
