According to the statements issued by the White House, and both Gul and Erdogan's offices Obama and Turkish officials discussed the Middle East, including Iraq and Iran, Afghanistan and Armenia.
"In both calls, the leaders discussed a number of current issues, including U.S. support for the growing Turkish-Iraqi relationship, the importance of cooperation in Middle East peace efforts, and the U.S. review on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy," the White House said in a statement.
This is the highest level contact of the new administration in Washington with Ankara since Obama took the office in Jan. 20. Earlier in February U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan on the sidelines of a security conference.
"The president emphasized the importance of the United States alliance with Turkey and said he looks forward to working with both President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan on a broad agenda of mutual strategic interest," the White House said adding, Obama emphasized his desire to strengthen U.S.-Turkish relations and to work together effectively in NATO.
Gul's office said prior to the White House's statement Obama had praised Turkey's leadership in the regional issues. The two leaders also "re-affirmed the will to work together, reviewing regional as well as international issues," Gul's office added.
Gul told the U.S. president that a legislation that would recognize the Armenian claims regarding the 1915 incidents should not be put before Congress.
The issue of 1915 incidents is highly sensitive for Turkey as well as Armenia. Around 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks, died in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took up arms, backed by Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
FOCUS ON ARMENIA ISSUE
However Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915. The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in accepting Turkey's proposal of forming a commission to investigate the claims.
The issue of 1915 incidents was high on the agenda of Obama-Erdogan discussion. The Obama administration is seen as the most pro-Armenian administration in Washington. Obama, Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged to recognize the Armenian claims on the 1915 incidents, which has caused major concern in Turkey.
Erdogan underlined the importance of the strategic cooperation. "Turkey's stance on policies regarding the Middle East and Armenia is clear. America's fair and impartial approach (to these issues) is important in order to prevent any damage to the bilateral relations," Erdogan was quoted as telling to Obama.
The U.S. president welcomed the recent restored dialogue between Turkey and Armenia, signaling under the existing circumstances he would refrain from taking any step that would harm these efforts.
Turkey and Armenia had restored dialogue, an important step to normalize the relations that would eventually result in the opening of the border between two neighboring countries. Turkey closed its border and cut its diplomatic relations with Armenia in a protest to Armenian occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory.
"I would like to say that your leadership is vital in the Middle East peace process and America always understands Turkey's sensitivities," Erdogan's office quoted Obama as telling the Turkish prime minister.
The statement said Obama expressed willingness to work with Turkey on many issues such as maintaining peace in the Middle East, ending PKK terrorism and relations with Armenia.
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