Ricciardone: "The US is interested in Turkey's june general elections"

The United States is interested in June's Turkish parliamentary elections, but it supports Turkey in general and not any specific party, said US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone on Monday. Following a closed-door meeting in Ankara with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Ricciardone told reporters that the meeting was a courtesy visit, adding that he would meet with other party leaders as well. He said the US doesn't support any specific Turkish political party but does support Turkey. He also said his meeting with Kilicdaroglu had been good and that they discussed a variety of subjects, including developments in Europe, the Middle East and Iran. Asked about his views on Turkey's opposition to the operation in Libya, Ricciardone said the two countries should cooperate, that the US and Turkey are working together in NATO, and that the most important thing is maintaining the safety of the Libyan people. Asked what Turkey might be expected to do to regarding a possible NATO operation in Libya, Ricciardone said he could not give details but that officials from both the US and Turkey are meeting in Brussels to discuss Libya.