ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- President Obama ended his first overseas trip in Turkey -- a location he said he chose to send a clear message. President Obama and Turkish President Abdullah Gul hold a joint news conference Monday. "I'm trying to make a statement about the importance of Turkey, not just to the United States but to the world," Obama said at a joint news conference Monday with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. "This is a country that has been often said lies at the crossroads between East and West. It's a country that possesses an extraordinarily rich heritage but also represents a blend of those ancient traditions with a modern nation state that respects democracy, respects rule of law and is striving toward a modern economy."
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President Obama: U.S. a nation of citizens, not any particular religion
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Obama says he is trying to make a statement by ending trip in Turkey
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Obama on first state visit to largely Muslim nation
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U.S. approval ratings among Turks hit low during Bush administration
"My sense is they are moving forward quickly," he said at an earlier press conference with @placeholder.