Dr. Ian Lesser, president of Mediterranean Advisors LLC, and an expert on the Mediterranean region, told an Ankara audience that the Turkish-American relationship should diversify beyond security, though security still demands large-scale cooperation in dealing with Iran.

At a luncheon organized by GMF, Lesser told a group of NGO representatives, government officials, and journalists that the U.S. strongly supports Turkey's drive to join the European Union because the United States feels it would make Turkey a more predictable player in the geo-strategic arena, where Turkey occupies important "real estate."

Regarding two of the more difficult regional threats, Iraq and Iran, Lesser said Turkey should work with the United States on both, including figuring out how to get past old objections on the Iraq war in order to address the current situation. On Iran, nuclear capabilities would change the entire region, Lesser warned.

Finally, Lesser pointed out something he said Americans do not know about Turkey: public opinion has become an important factor in Turkish decision-making.