Why is President Obama being so generous with Turkey?
AMBASSADOR SPECKHARD: I do not think we see it that way. We see it a little bit differently. When the new administration came in, it has looked at the world perhaps a little bit differently than in the past and has focused on the importance of setting a new tone in the international engagement of reaching out, to particularly the Muslim World, to ensure that we are working together on common problems and challenges and promoting a vision of peace and stability in the world. As you know– Greece knows better than anybody– the Middle East is a very important region for stability in the world, as well as for your own region. And Turkey, with neighbors such as Iran, Iraq and Syria, has an important role as an example of a modern, secular Islamic state and we want to help Ankara I think. Not only in NATO, but in the international community. Journalist: You are calling this role important. Many people think it is upgraded and I think it has created tension with most important allies of NATO
