The president spoke of Turkey as a critical ally and an important part of Europe.

VOA: standard.2009.04.06

China has long been listed as a "country of particular concern" by the State Department for its record on religious freedom, as has U.S.Persian Gulf ally Saudi Arabia.

VOA: standard.2009.10.26

Once agian,Ronald Suny. "What's startling is that two important countries have not recognized it - the United States,repeatedly, because of its alliance with Turkey, its strategic interest in the region, its need for Turkey as a NATO ally, in its war against Iraq, has not recognized it.

VOA: standard.2010.03.19