US President Barack Obama says the United States will never be at war with Islam, as long as he's president.

He was speaking during a trip to Turkey, the first Muslim nation he's visited since assuming office.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul (R) shakes hands with US President Barack Obama during a joint press conference at Cankaya Palace in Ankara. [Saul Loeb/AFP]

Barack Obama is trying to mend fences with the Muslim world, after seven years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "The United States is not and never will be at war with Islam."

During a speech to the Turkish Parliament, he said terrorist groups such as al Qaida are extremists and in no way represent the vast majority of Muslims.

But Obama also talked about different points of view.

At a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, Obama said he still believes the Ottoman Turks killed hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the early 20th century, though he avoided using the term "genocide."

Gul said it was not a legal or political issue, but a historical one that was set against the backdrop of World War One.

But on the whole, Obama preferred to focus on the common themes he says the US shares with Turkey.

Barack Obama, US President, said, "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens, who are bound by ideals and a set of values. I think modern Turkey was founded with a similar set of principles."

Obama is seeking Turkey's help as the US attempts to pull out of Iraq and turn the war in Afghanistan around.

Long-time US ally Turkey is a member of NATO and is trying to join the European Union. Obama has urged the EU to accept Turkey as a member, saying it would be a positive sign for the Muslim world.

(CCTV April 7, 2009)