FM Davutoglu: "The US needs to adjust to Turkey's new profile"

Turkish-US ties have been through rough patches in the past and may become strained again, given the changing nature of their relationship, according to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. It will take time for the US to become accustomed to the necessary mentality change, "since Turkey doesn't want to be a strategic ally of the US from the security perspective only," he told reporters on Saturday. Turkey's views need to be taken into account by the US in shaping its policies, Davutoglu said. Turkey wants to be influential and visible in global politics, he said, adding that this ambition is a pillar of the current government's policies. "Turkey wants to be one of the countries shaping the new world order. We want Turkey to be seen as a country that will help restore the international system," he said. "We don't want to be a country adapting to the system. We want to be a central country whose word carries weight, a country that says how the UN system or G-20 should be shaped, a country offering a view on how the global financial crisis should be solved," he said. Strengthening Turkey's strategic direction in the wake of the Cold War has been another basic aim of government policy, Davutoglu said, adding that despite frustration over the slow pace of European Union membership negotiations, Turkey has the political will to pursue its EU bid. "Turkey's future is in the EU. And the EU's future will be shaped with Turkey," he said.