US sec'y state Clinton calls Turkey 'emerging global power'

Addressing a meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading Washington-based think tank, on Wednesday, US secretary of State Hillary Clinton stressed her country's eagerness for engaging in a full partnership with Ankara, and called Turkey an "emerging global power" along with countries such as China, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa. Stating that the US is working to strengthen bilateral relations with a number of allies in Far Asia as a both trans-Atlantic and a trans-Pacific nation, Clinton said, “We will also put special emphasis on encouraging major and emerging global powers -- China, India, Russia and Brazil, as well as Turkey, Indonesia and South Africa -- to be full partners in tackling the global agenda. I want to underscore the importance of this task, and my personal commitment to it. These states are vital to achieving solutions to shared problems and advancing our priorities -- nonproliferation, counterterrorism, economic growth, and climate change among others. With these states, we will stand firm on our principles even as we seek common ground,” she added. In related news, a proposed bill recently submitted to the US House of Representatives offered to celebrate the Turkish people and the government for Turkey's Ocotber 29 Republic Day.