In 1st visit in 37 years, Queen Elizabeth praises Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey: Queen Elizabeth II praised Turkey's role as a bridge between the West and the Islamic world on Tuesday during her first visit to the predominantly Muslim country in 37 years.

"For us, Turkey is as important now as it has ever been," the British monarch said at a state banquet. "Turkey is uniquely positioned as a bridge between East and West at a crucial time for the European Union and the world in general."

Wearing a tiara and dressed in a white gown decorated with beads, the queen said Turkey is "playing a key role in promoting peace, political stability and economic development in some of the world's most unsettled areas."

She referred to the Alliance of Civilizations initiative, a U.N.-backed project — co-sponsored by Turkey and Spain — aiming to increase dialogue between Western and non-Western cultures and to address the causes of conflict between them.

In a gesture of respect, President Abdullah Gul wore a tuxedo and a silver-colored bow tie to the 300-guest banquet. Gul comes from an Islamic political tradition that usually shuns tuxedos as a symbol of Western-style dress.

His wife, Hayrunnisa, wears an Islamic-style head scarf that is banned in government offices and seen by some Turks as a challenge to Turkey's secular rules. At the state dinner, she wore a pink and silver gown and a matching head covering.

Gul thanked Britain for backing Turkey's bid to join the EU.

"The United Kingdom has become one of our most loyal supporters in Turkey's march toward membership of the European Union," Gul said. "We are grateful for this unwavering and permanent support."

Turkey began membership talks in 2005, but progress has been slow over disagreements on divided Cyprus and opposition from some European countries.

"It is obviously a difficult time," British Ambassador Nick Baird said. "But the message is that we just have to stay resilient. We just have to keep going."

The queen laid a wreath at the tomb of Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk — a tradition expected of visiting dignitaries.

"It's an honor to pay my respects to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a much beloved friend of the United Kingdom and one of the great figures of modern history," she wrote in the visitor's book at the mausoleum.

For four days, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, will see some of the country's most revered national monuments and take part in religious and cultural traditions, highlighting Britain's good relations with Turkey.

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