PM Erdogan meets with US national security adviser

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday received Stephen Hadley, US President George W. Bush's national security adviser, at the Prime Ministry headquarters. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Hadley said Turkey and the US cooperate with each other in the fight against terrorism. "Our two nations are united in the fight against terrorism, and the US is committed to working with Turkey both in the Iraq issue and the fight against our common enemy, the terrorist PKK," he said. Touching on accomplishments in Turkey 's reform slate, Hadley said, " Turkey has made some important democratic, political reforms, and free market reforms, in the last several years. The US believes such reforms should continue." He also said that countries enjoy a strong strategic partnership and that Washington hopes to further strengthen these ties in the future. Commenting on Turkey's European Union accession bid, Hadley said the US strongly supports Turkey's EU aspirations. Regarding the recent attack on a police post outside the US Consulate in Istanbul, Hadley expressed appreciation for the government's defense of the consulate, and added, "I offer my condolences to the families of the brave Turkish policemen who lost their lives in the attack." Hadley was also received by President Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya Presidential Palace.