Turkey calls for closer NATO ties with Islamic world

Aug 28, 2009, 11:20 GMT

Istanbul - The Turkish government on Friday called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to hold a summit with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, in order to expand the military alliance's relations with the Islamic world.

Turkey made the proposal during a visit to Ankara by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

'The dialogue must be expanded,' Rasmussen said, adding that he would consider the proposal.

According to media reports, Turkish diplomats should exchange permanent representatives. They said that OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has welcomed the proposals.

During the visit, Rasmussen was invited by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to a traditional iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The former Danish prime minister, whose nomination to the Western military alliance stoked controversy in Turkey due to the Danish media's publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed, stressed his respect for Islam and universal human values.

Rasmussen also repeated a call he made Thursday in Athens for the resolution of ongoing bilateral disputes between Greece and Turkey, which he said were impeding NATO efforts in Afghanistan.

Rasmussen also requested greater engagement by Turkey in the rebuilding Afghanistan's educational system.

Though both Greece and Turkey are NATO members, the two countries have longstanding animosities including the issue of the divided island of Cyprus.