(20 Sep 2011)
1. Pull out from US President Barack Obama to wide of Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seated together
2. Mid of Erdogan
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Barack Obama, US President:
"Turkey is a NATO ally, a great friend and partner on a whole host of issues. I want to thank him for all the work that we''ve done together, the cooperation in Afghanistan, the work that we most recently did in trying to provide freedom for Libya and, in addition, the NATO obligations that both of us carry out together, most recently symbolised by the agreement of Turkey to host a missile defence radar. Prime Minister Erdogan has shown great leadership on a range of issues and promoting democracy and we are very grateful to him for the work that we''ve done together. I do want to express my deepest condolences for the loss of life through the explosion that took place in Ankara and I understand that the investigation is ongoing, but I think that this reminds us that terrorism exists in many parts of the world and that Turkey and the United States are going to be strong partners in preventing terrorism and we look forward to working with you on these issues."
4. Mid of Obama
5. SOUNDBITE: (Turkish) Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish Prime Minister:
"In the explosion that happened in Ankara, we lost three of our citizens. Then in Siirt, in a car that had four women, because of a terror attack, we lost four of our civilian citizens. This has been something that has caused us sadness. Of course, when asked whether the fight on terror can be won, it can be minimised, but I am not very optimistic on whether it can be finished."
6. Mid of Erdogan
7. Wide of Obama and Erdogan shaking hands and getting up to begin meeting
STORYLINE:
President Barack Obama on Tuesday thanked the Turkish Prime Minister of Turkey, a key Muslim ally, for backing the U.S. on issues including Afghanistan and Libya during a meeting ahead of the U.N. General Assembly''s meeting in New York on Wednesday.
However, in comments to reporters alongside Erdogan, Obama steered clear of the hot-button topic of the Palestinian statehood bid at the United Nations.
Turkey supports the Palestinian move while the U.S. is strongly opposed.
The U.S. has asked Turkey not to allow its rift with Israel to widen.
However, Erdogan also avoided the topic of Israel or the Palestinians during Tuesday''s meeting.
Instead, Erdogan said Turkey and the U.S. have taken important steps in their relationship and will continue to do so.
Obama said Turkey is an "ally, a great friend and partner on a whole host of issues" and then went on to thank Erdogan for his country''s help in Afghanistan, Libya and most recently their decision to host a missile defence radar.
Both Obama and Erdogan said they looked forward to continued cooperation in fighting "terrorism", an issue that struck close to home for Erdogan on Tuesday.
Two suspected militant attacks, one in Ankara and the other in Siirt, claimed seven lives.
A car bomb went off near a high school in the Turkish capital, killing three people in a nearby building and wounding 34 others, according to Turkish authorities.
While Erdogan said four women lost their lives in Siirt. According to Turkish media a missile hit their car in the south eastern province.
Obama offered his deepest condolences to the people of Turkey for their loss.
"This reminds us that terrorism exists in many parts of the world and that Turkey and the United States are going to be strong partners in preventing terrorism," said Obama.

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