Clinton weighs in to support Turkey, but urges reforms

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the weekend reiterated full support to Turkey's fight against terrorism, praising its role in modernization efforts across the region, but also urged it to first pass a new constitution to bolster human rights and freedom of expression at home. "If there is an area that I am concerned about with recent actions, it is the area of freedom of expression and freedom of the media," Clinton said Saturday, speaking to young Turks at a town hall event. "I do not think it is necessary or in Turkey's interests to be cracking down on journalists and bloggers and the Internet." After taking part in Friday's Libya Contact Group meeting in Istanbul, Clinton held bilateral talks with Turkish government officials and opposition party representatives on Saturday. She met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and separately with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Afterwards, at a joint press conference with Davutoglu, she voiced concerns about Turkish democracy, specifically citing the recent arrests of journalists and Internet restrictions. Clinton also called on Turkish officials to continue the constitutional reform process, calling them an opportunity to address a number of concerns hanging over Ankara's European Union accession. "I know you're thinking about doing a constitutional reform process, and I strongly believe in protecting people's rights in constitutions, because there is so much diversity in Turkey," she said. "It's one of the things that is so attractive about Turkey, and you don't want to do anything that undermines or denies that diversity." Clinton reiterated Washington's strong support for Turkey's battle against the terrorist PKK, but also said Turkey should expand its political participation so "Kurdish Turks can feel fully part of Turkey while still believing they can maintain those aspects of their Kurdish identity that are important to them."