US President Barack Obama planted yet another fruitful seed in Turkey, which was the last leg in his European tour. Cementing Muslim ties with the US was high on Mr. Obama's agenda as he began the day by meeting with Muslim, Christian and Jewish leaders. He then met informally with students reinforcing his new US engagement plans all the while reiterating US support for Turkey's membership to the EU. He affirmed that Turkey had been a responsible ally in transatlantic European institutions and asserted that Turkish membership would only broaden Europe's core. Before returning to Washington, Obama also made an unannounced visit to Baghdad. This will mark another chapter in the US president's calendar to reunite ties and wind down the unpopular war in Iraq. Talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki are set to take place over the phone as poor weather conditions prevent President Obama from travelling to the city by helicopter.
