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          Top Turkey Official Touts 'Win-Win' Approach to Ties With US

   by Dorian Jones

   Turkish-U.S. relations will not be significantly affected by last
   week's failed coup and Turkey will take a "mutual benefit approach" to
   diplomacy between the two countries, according to Turkey's chief of
   international relations, Ayse Sozen Usluer.

   In an interview Thursday with VOA, Usluer discussed Turkey's strategy
   following the July 15 failed coup by members of Turkey's military.

   U.S.-Turkish relations remain strained after Friday's coup, with
   accusations from members of Turkey's ruling AK Party of U.S.
   involvement in the uprising. Usluer distanced President Recep Tayyip
   Erdogan from such accusations.

   ''"There is no official idea that there are foreign powers behind the
   coup," Usluer said. She claims the accusations were in response to
   comments made by some U.S. lawmakers.

   "Two U.S. senators tweeted saying that, 'Good news of the day, military
   attempting to oust Turkish dictator.' We have all these tweets.," she
   said. "Such messages, do not help the Turkish people. We've lost
   hundreds of lives. We expect solidarity from our friends."

   ''But Usluer insisted Ankara will continue working with Washington. "It
   will not affect the U.S.-Turkish relations. I think our cooperation
   will continue, especially on our fight against Daesh," she said, using
   the Arab name for the Islamic State group.

   Usluer described the country's approach as pragmatic, calling it a
   "win-win" in which both sides gain advantage.

   Analysts have been speculating that the crisis in Turkey threatens to
   unravel U.S.-Turkey relations, as Erdogan links the U.S. to the
   extradition of Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic preacher who lives in exile
   in the United States.

   Erdogan accuses Gulen of masterminding the coup attempt.

   Gulen has denied any involvement in the military plot to topple the
   Turkish government, and hinted the coup might have been staged to
   justify his arrest.

   WATCH: Cleric Gulen Denies Claims of Coup Involvement

   After Wednesday's announcement of a state of emergency in Turkey,
   analysts speculate the failed coup is likely to affect the list of
   Erdogan's allies as he tightens his grip on authoritarian rule.

   `Friends and enemies'

   Usluer told VOA that in addition to the United States, Turkey also will
   be solidifying relations with Iran and developing relations with
   Russia.

   Unlike some of Ankara's Western allies, Iran did not wait for the
   coup's failure to speak up. "We will remember who helped us," Usluer
   said.

   "There is probably no anti-Erdoganism in Tehran," suggested Usluer,
   "because I believe there are lot of prejudices toward Erdogan himself
   in Western countries, and this is a failure of Western countries not to
   support the democracy regime in Turkey."

   In a phone call, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told Erdogan the coup
   attempt was "a test to identify your domestic and foreign friends and
   enemies."

   Usluer, who acknowledged that differences remain, said, "Iran's support
   will affect positively our relations, but each country will follow
   their own concerns in the region."

   Usluer also said Turkey will be forging closer ties with Russia.

   That process with Russia began in late June when Erdogan apologized to
   Moscow for the incident with the downed Russian plane that took place
   in November 2015 and triggered a seven-month-long crisis in bilateral
   relations.

   Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan had their first telephone
   conversation since the November incident. The parties agreed to meet in
   person in the near future, and restrictions on travel to Turkey for
   Russian tourists were lifted.

   U.S. response

   U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Wednesday offered reassurances
   Turkey's alliance with the U.S. is still strong following the failed
   military coup.

   "Turkey has been a strong ally for decades, as we've faced together a
   great variety of problems, from the Cold War to today's counter-ISIL
   campaign," Carter said, using an acronym for Islamic State. "The
   alliance is very strong and our relationship is very strong."

   But with the declaration of a state of emergency in Turkey, further
   concerns are being raised about restrictions on freedoms and rights in
   Turkey. It allows the cabinet under the chairmanship of the president
   to issue decrees that have the force of law on matters relating to the
   state of emergency.

   It also comes as concerns grow over the scale of the crackdowns that
   have targeted thousands of judges, civil servants, teachers, police
   officers and soldiers, and amid widespread fears of growing
   authoritarianism on the part of Erdogan.

   Turkish officials have insisted that the measures are necessary to
   preserve security and stability as the country grapples with the coup's
   aftermath and investigates how it came about.

   Erdogan said the state of emergency is not against democracy, the rule
   of law or freedom.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/top-turkey-official-touts-mutual-bene
   fit-approach-relations-us/3429050.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/top-turkey-official-touts-mutual-benefit-approach-relations-us/3429050.html