Council Fellows Steven A. Cook and Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall joined presider Marc Grossman, former ambassador to Turkey, in a presentation of a new Council Special Report. Underscoring the importance of the US-Turkey relationship, they expressed support for Turkey’s integration into the European Union, called for the resolution of the Cyprusissue, and suggested trilateral talks between Turkey, theU.S. and legitimate Kurdish-Iraqi leaders.

“The growing schism between the West and the Islamic world is one of the primary challenges confronting American foreign and defense policymakers. As a consequence, the relationship between the United States and Turkey—a Western-oriented, democratizing Muslim country—is strategically more important than ever,” asserts a new Special Report.

The U.S.-Turkish relationship, a Cold War strategic fixture, shows signs of fraying. A new CFR report says Washington can help repair ties by improving dialogue on Iraqi Kurds, taking a bigger role in resolving the Cyprus dispute, and boosting Ankara's bid to join the European Union.

This Council Special Report makes the case that Turkey's strategic importance to the United States is greater than ever, and that a major effort needs to be undertaken to renew and revitalize the relationship.

Steven Cook, CFR's Douglas Dillon Fellow, discusses the troublesome state of U.S. relations with Turkey and suggests a diplomatic approach for repairing ties with the critical ally.

The Turkish-Armenian Conflict has lasted for nearly a century and still continues in attenuated forms to poison the relationship between Turks and Armenians. Contact was taboo before the author brought the two sides together to explore ways of overcoming their historical enmity.