"Rice, in Turkey, Says Democracy's Spread Must Come from Within
......While in Turkey, Rice also participated in interviews with two of that country's television networks.
During an interview with Banu Guven of Turkey's NTV, Rice said that the United States was disappointed that a United Nations plan to reunite the island of Cyprus was not adopted and is "looking at means we can use to help ease the isolation of the northern Cypriots."
In an interview with Metehan Demir of Kanal-D TV, Rice said that Turkey has a very important role to play in helping to create "a different kind of Middle East."
"Turkey ... is one of America's strongest partners in the broader Middle East reform, a functioning democracy, Islamic people here who are faithful and devout, but devoted to democracy," she said.
When asked about Turkey's decision to prohibit U.S. troops bound for Iraq in early 2003 from using Turkey as a transit point, Rice responded that "friends will sometimes disagree, but when we disagree, we have to do so from a basis that still understands the vital importance of this relationship." She added that the two nations have been able to support each other in places like Afghanistan, and reaffirmed U.S. support of Turkey's accession to the European Union."
More:Rice, in Turkey, Says Democracy's Spread Must Come from Within- U.S. Department Of State