(Zaman) - An American think tank organization has called on the US administration to repair and redefine its relations with Turkey and to promote America's ties with the Muslim world.
"The emerging schism between the West and the Islamic world makes America's relationship with Turkey - a Western-oriented, democratizing Muslim country - more important than ever," the report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) entitled "Generating Momentum for a New Era in US-Turkey Relations" underlined, reports Trend.
The report, however, warned that US-Turkish relations have markedly deteriorated over the last three years despite a long history of close collaboration.
"The US invasion of Iraq, and the potential consequences for Turkey with its large Kurdish population, is the primary issue that divides Washington and Ankara, but there are also differences regarding Cyprus, Syria, Iran, Israel, and HAMAS, as well as a rising tide of anti-Americanism in Turkey."
Anti-Americanism in Turkey hit new heights following the 2003 Iraqi invasion and the notorious hood affair where Turkish special forces were humiliated by US soldiers in Northern Iraq. Only 12 percent of Turks have a positive image of the US, a recent Pew survey showed.
The study, to be released on Wednesday, June 21, is the work of CFR fellows Steven A. Cook and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall.
CFR is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving the understanding of US foreign policy and international affairs through the free and civil exchange of ideas.
The report recommended that Washington, to repair this important alliance relationship, should establish a regular trilateral dialogue involving the United States, Turkey, and Iraqi Kurds and to play a leading role in seeking a settlement to the long-standing dispute over Cyprus.
"The US should be more active in supporting Ankara's bid for EU membership; and work to create a US-Turkey Cooperation Commission that would meet on a biannual basis to provide a structured forum for government agencies, NGOs, and private sector leaders from both countries to discuss matters of mutual concern."
Steven Cook said in the report that Turkey would seek partners like China and Russia if the EU failed to accept her into the union and if the US failed to anchor Turkey in the west.