US President Barack Obama has begun a two-day visit to Turkey to meet Turkish leaders in an effort to revitalise ties between the two countries. En route to Ankara, Mr Obama said he supports the country's efforts to join the European Union. He said Turkey's accession would send an important signal to the Muslim world and firmly anchor it in Europe. But French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was up to the EU itself to decide who joined the bloc. Before travelling to Turkey, Mr Obama participated in a Nato gathering in France, where he helped to overcome Turkey's objection to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the alliance's next leader. Turkey is said to have misgivings about Mr Rasmussen over his refusal to apologise for the "cartoons controversy" when a Danish newspaper published illustrations that inflamed passions in much of the Muslim world. But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late Sunday that Mr Obama's support had helped to resolve concerns. "He put forth a lot of positive energy," Mr Erdogan said. "We responded positively to this. We hope that the promises made are kept." Strategic visit Correspondents say security is extremely tight for Mr Obama's visit. Snipers and riot police have been deployed and military aircraft are patrolling a no-fly zone over Ankara, AP news agency reported. Almost 9,000 police will be deployed for Mr Obama's visit to Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, which begins late on Monday. Several small groups have been holding anti-US demonstrations in both cities, the AP said. The visit is Mr Obama's first to a majority Muslim country as president, and only his second purely bilateral visit after Canada. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Ankara says the fact that he chose to come to Turkey so early has been welcomed as a sign that he wants to re-engage with it. Public support for the US dropped to a record low during the Bush administration, fuelled mostly by fierce opposition to the invasion of Iraq, she says. 'Mutual respect' Speaking in Prague on Sunday, Mr Obama said Turkey's entry into the EU would help to consolidate its position as a Western nation. "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbours and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interest," he said. "Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe." But Mr Sarkozy said he had always been opposed to Turkey's EU entry. "When it comes to the European Union it's up to member states of the European Union to decide," he told French TV. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while close links with Turkey were important, its future status in Europe was still open for discussion. The EU agreed to open accession talks with Ankara in 2004, but in recent years, correspondents say, Turkey has made little progress with democratic reforms which would improve its chances of membership. Source: BBC