Rice says US will not get involved in political developments in Turkey

The United States would not get involved in the recent political developments in Turkey, Rice told on Thursday at a conference held by the Council on Foreign Relations, a think-tank organization in New York.    Â

Turkey's top prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya filed a case against the Islamist-rooted AKP in March, and demanded the party's closure, as well as a ban on 71 officials from political activities. The prosecutor accused the ruling AKP of becoming the "focal point of anti-secular activities", as the party's harsh response and criticism against the court raised tension in the country.  Â

"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 continue to speak up for reform in Turkey, for democracy in Turkey, the secular democracy in Turkey," Rice told at the conference.

Rice said the United States have had excellent relations with the ruling AKP, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, and Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and added she also believes the agenda for democratization that the AKP has undertaken has been good for Turkey.

The AKP has reached out to religious people and Kurdish origin citizens in Turkey, she said. Â

"I think the secular democracy in Turkey is important, but it is also important that religious people are part of the -- a part of the country. And so we have very good relations with them," Rice said.Â