President avid Obama reader

"I read your books that you wrote a few years ago and I am really impressed," Gül said, according to sources familiar with the talks in the Presidency. Obama’s two books, "Dreams from My Father" and "Audacity of Hope," both hit the best-seller list, seeing especially high sales during the presidential campaign. The first is a memoir, originally published in 1995, and the latter deals with Obama’s politics and faith. Upon receiving Gül’s praise, Obama uttered his appreciation and said, "I am also impressed that a President read my books."

An increase in anti-Americanism was one of the topics occupying the meeting’s agenda. Gül pointed to the Bush administration as the reason for the increase in such sentiments and said: "There were problems in the past. It was because the former administration made unilateral decisions and tried to impose them. The situation brought about the birth of anti-Americanism all around the world. However, your promise for honesty and cooperation has given hope to the world. You will see that anti-Americanism will vanish when you switch to this application."

Obama supported this view and said the problems would be overcome together. In regards to the situation in the Caucasus, Gül drew attention to Azerbaijan’s significant role in the region and said the country should not be sidelined.