Ambassador David Hale remarks on the completion of the USAID Rule of Law Program (6/10/2008) - Notes the progress made on modernizing Jordan's judiciary through its improvements in transparency, responsiveness and independence. 

Ambassador David Hale, MEPI Regional conference for Business, Legal and Civil Society Leaders (06/11/2008) - Remarks positively on the various social and political reforms that are leading to a better future for the region, while also encouraging further cooperative efforts on behalf of both the Jordanian and U.S. governments.

Sean McCormack, DoS Press Briefing, 7/30/08: Comments on the Constitutional Court's decision not to close the AKP, "We would also encourage Turkey to use this moment to reinvigorate its efforts with the EU."

Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 7/27/08: Comments on the AKP closure case, "If Turkey is going to get into the EU, which we strongly support, it has to adhere to European standards. So there needs to be an evolution of the democratic system, and that's what is under way."

Stephen Hadley, U.S. National Security Adviser, press availability, Ankara, 7/17/08: "Turkey has made some important democratic political reforms and free market economic reforms in the last several years and the United States believes strongly that this reform effort should continue." Later he says, "This reform effort is supported by the people of Turkey and it will also bring Turkey closer to the European Union. The United States strongly supports membership ...

Sean McCormack, DoS Press Briefing, 7/9/08: Condemns that day's terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.

Dana Perino, White House Spokesperson, 7/3/08: Says President Bush "wants to make sure that democracy is firm in that country (Turkey)."

Tom Casey, DoS Press Briefing, 7/1/08: Comments on the AKP closure case, "We support Turkish democracy. This is an issue before the Turkish courts. We would expect that the court, in making its decision, would consider the will of the Turkish people in doing so." 

Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, Q and A at the Council on Foreign Relations, 6/19/08: Comments on the AKP closure case,  “I think we have to continue to support the democratic institutions in Turkey. Obviously, we are not going to get involved in the current crisis, or the current controversy in Turkey about the court case. That's a matter for Turkey to resolve. But I do think that we need to ...

Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs, speech at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 6/19/08: Lends some support to the AKP by saying, "A democracy requires that voters determine their country's political future, and Turkey's voters made clear decisions during elections twice in 2007."  He adds that it would be "quite unfortunate if the way a political debate is resolved is through banning ...

Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State, 6/5/08: Comments on the United States' relationship with the AKP, "Our view is that Turkey will, of course, resolve its issues through its democratic processes, but we are going to continue to work with this government with which we have found an excellent working relationship, with which we share common values, and which increasingly, over the last year or so, we find ourselves working more ...

Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 5/15/08: "We hope very much in our government that, as Secretary Rice said recently, Turkish voters will determine the political future of Turkey and that all is resolved in full accordance with Turkey's traditional secular values and democracy."  He added, "There's no hidden message here, we're not being pro- or anti-AKP." 

Condoleezza Rice, Remarks at the American-Turkish Council Luncheon, Washington, DC, 4/15/08: Commends Prime Minister Erdogan's stated intention to amend Article 301 ("We encourage this."), and comments very ambiguously on the AKP closure case, "We believe and hope that this will be decided within Turkey’s secular democratic context and by its secular democratic principles."

Sean McCormack, DoS Press Briefing, 4/11/08: Comments on the AKP closure case, "Our firm view is that democracy is thriving in Turkey, that the laws and constitution of Turkey need to be interpreted in a way that is free from political influence and that should -- in any interpretation of those laws and constitution, should abide by the fundamental principles of democracy and the ability of people to freely assemble ...

U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Riley, Statement on 2007 Human Rights Report, 3/11/08: “The U.S. Government vigorously promotes the cause of human rights as a core component of our foreign policy.  This is based on a belief that a democratic system that includes free and fair elections; accountable and representative government institutions; and vibrant, independent civil society, political parties, NGOS, and free media, is the best guarantor of human rights.  In ...

Sean McCormack, Daily Press Briefing, 7/11/08: Comments on the formation of Lebanon's unity government, remarking that the U.S. will not deal with Hezbollah members of the cabinet.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, 6/16/08: Comments on the Hariri Assassination and continuing U.S. support for Lebanese democratic efforts.

Tom Casey, DoS Press Briefing, 3/31/08: Comments on the AKP closure case,  "What we would expect and hope from this process is that those involved would proceed in a way that was apolitical and that reflected the commitment to representative democracy that's been expressed by the Turkish voters in recent elections."

Matt Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 3/16/08: Comments on the AKP closure case, submitted on 3/14/08. "It's essential in any democracy that voters determine their country's political future, and the voters made their decision in 2007. We believe that all entities involved should respect the democratic institutions of Turkey and the rule of law. That reflects our support for Turkish democratic secularism."

Department of State, Office of the Spokesman, Taken Question, 12/14/07: Comments supporting the "return home" resolution being considered by the Turkish government that would grant amnesty to some PKK members.