ISTANBUL -- ISTANBUL (AP) — Add Turkey's prime minister to President Barack Obama's allies in a fight over health care which has paralyzed much of the U.S. government.


In a rare comment on U.S. domestic policy, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday praised Obama's health care law and expressed puzzlement that some are trying to block it.


"It's such a beautiful step and to tell the truth, Mr. Obama should be supported," Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara. "There are those who say: 'You cannot spend my earnings on others.' Now, how is this possible?"


Obama's 2010 health care law is at the center of a budget standoff in Washington that has led to a partial government shutdown.


Erdogan said the law benefits those who cannot afford health care. Citing a dictum from the Ottoman sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, Erdogan added that human life should be held above all other interests of the state.


"Human beings are so important that we put them above all else," Erdogan said.



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  • Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard


    Green and white 2GB iPod Shuffle. Sherrin Match Australian football. Red, white, and blue Western Bulldogs Australian Football League on a field jersey; Red, white, and blue “U.S. Footy” football jersey with “USA Revolution” on the front and “25” on the back. Hand-crafted 2.5″ x 4″ x 6″ Dragonfly silver ash wood trinket box with “Wood Works Gallery” sticker on bottom, presented in brown box with “Australia” sticker on top. Rec'd—3/4/2011. Est. Value—$478.00. <em>The new Ipod Shuffle, in green, is held at the UK launch of the product at the BBC on September 5, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Cate Gillon/Getty Images)</em>




  • More From Julia Gillard


    Book, title: “That Deadman Dance” authored by Kim Scott. Book, title: “Truth” authored by Peter Temple. Book, title: “Breath” authored by Tim Winton. 22″ x 13″ framed collection of historic Australian ANZUS stamps. Custom-made, authentic Akubra Cattleman hat in tanmark brown, made of pure fur felt with dark brown leather trimmings. 17″ x 17″ framed black-and-white commemorative historical picture of a ship, with plaque commemorating 60th Anniversary of the ANZUS Alliance. Rec'd—11/15/2011. Est. Value—$511.27. <em>Photo courtesy of Alamy Images</em>




  • French President Nicolas Sarkozy


    Large, black Hermes golf accessory bag including set of lock and key, and extra strap in bottom compartment, presented in cream colored drawstring bag. Rec'd—1/10/2011. Est. Value—$7,750.00. <em>A staff member carries the golf bag of US President Barack Obama at a landing zone in Chicago, Illinois, on June 17, 2012 before he leaves for Los Cabos, Mexico to attend G20 summit. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages)</em>




  • More from Sarkozy


    Lacoste white classic men's polo shirt. Limited-edition “HOPE” fountain pen and Ligne 8 lighter from S.T. Dupont, each in a cherry blossom design, and contained in a 6.5″ x 6.5″ black box with “G8 France 2011” on the top. Bottle of Christian Drouin Pays d'Auge. S.T. Dupont black and silver fountain pen, presented in a 8.5″ x 4.5″ black case. Six black glass goblets in a plastic display case and contained in a 30″ x 18″ red box; 14.35″ tall blue-gray glass sculpture of Bucephalus, Alexander the Great's horse. Rec'd—5/25/2011. Est. Value—$15,083.62. <em>Advertising for the lighters Dupont. France, 1947. (Photo by Pierre Jahan/Roger Viollet/Getty Images)</em>




  • El Salvador President Mauricio Funes


    20″ x 18″ x 5″ wooden mask carved into shape of a jaguar head on a 24″ x 12″ x 5″ wooden base with a gold-colored plaque on bottom describing the piece. Rec'd—3/20/2011. Est. Value—$410.00. <em>Two young boys dressed as Jaguars and one as a Fox, in the fertility and rain making festival dating from the pre-Columbian times, 1982, Acatlan, Mexico. (Photo by Werner Forman/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)</em>




  • Polish Prime Minister Donald Franciszek Tusk


    DVD, title: “Best of the Witcher 2: Video Trailers for President Barack Obama,” distributor: Atari. Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka. Book, title: “Blood of Elves,” by Andrzej Sapkowski. Book, title: “The Last Wish,” by Andrzej Sapkowski. Set of four 2″ x 1.5″ clear glass liqueur glasses, each has “Zubrowka” engraved in white. 13.5″ x 9.75″ x 4.5″ “Witcher 2” gift box, inside are three golden “Witcher 2” coins, a “Witcher 2” book, “Witcher 2” stickers, “Witcher 2” make your own aircraft. 5.5″ x 6.5″ x 3″ ivory-colored bust of “Witcher 2” character “Gwynbleioo,” a DVD box set of “Witcher 2” bonus DVD, Game DVD, and Game Guide. “Witcher 2” playing cards, and 5 wooden die in black sack with “Witcher 2” emblem. 11.75″ x 7″ x 5″ brown leather carrying case with handles and lock. Rec'd—5/28/2011. Est. Value—$497.08. <em>In this video game image released by Warner Bros., a scene is shown from "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings." (AP Photo/Warner Bros.)</em>




  • Council of Traditional Chiefs and Kings of Cote d'Ivoire


    Traditional Chief's robe (Kita), from the Akan People. Rec'd—6/27/2011. Est. Value—$450.00. <em>Photo courtesy of Alamy Images.</em>




  • Filippino Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia


    Bamboo bicycle, handmade by the Bambike Company. Rec'd—7/5/2011. Est. Value—$1,060.00. <em>A bamboo bicycle. (Getty Images)</em>




  • New Zealand Prime Minister John Key


    11.5″ x 4″ traditional Maori weapon with a short broad-bladed club, made of the sacred greenstone, carved by Aden Hoglund, and contained in a 16″ x 7″ x 3″ wooden presentation box. Rec'd—7/22/2011. Est. Value—$3,200.00. <em>Traditional New Zealand Maori club made from jade (Getty Images)</em>




  • Afghan President Hamid Karzai


    Large Afghan rug in mostly tan, black, brown, and green geometric patterns. Rec'd—9/23/2011. Est. Value—$1,200.00. <em>An Afghan labourer works at a traditional carpet factory in Kabul on November 3, 2012. (Jawad Jalali/AFP/Getty Images)</em>




  • Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny


    Book, title: “At the Gateways of the Day (1924): Tales and Legends of Hawaii, Vol. 1,” 1st Edition by Padraic Colum, enclosed in green and yellow paisley cardboard sleeve. 1.75″ Sterling silver History of Ireland brooch depicting Ireland through the ages, enclosed in 2.5″ x 2.25″ x 1″ black box. 36″ wooden hurling stick with black electrical tape near top and bottom. 20mm diameter Sterling silver History of Ireland cufflinks depicting Ireland through the ages, enclosed in 4″ x 3″ x 1″ black box. Rec'd—5/23/2011. Est. Value—$553.95. <em>Used leather sliothar hurling ball beside head of caman hurley stick on grass. (Getty Images)</em>




  • Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj


    Book, title: “The Secret History of the Mongol Queens,” by Jack Weatherford. Three Mongolian cashmere sweaters in pink and green, and purple and brown pattern; 16″ x 27.5″ framed artwork of the First Lady's name in Mongolian calligraphy. Large Gobi Mongolian oatmeal-colored cashmere shawl. Rec'd—6/16/2011. Est. Value—$790.00. Disposition—National Archives and Records Administration <em>A worker at the state run Gobi factory which makes cashmere and camel-hair garments checks cashmere cardigans in the quality control department. (Photo by Peter Charlesworth/LightRocket via Getty Images)</em>




  • Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa


    Six pouches of coffee contained in a 14″ x 9.5″ x 5″ wooden box, interior is red velvet and divided into six compartments, each containing a small wicker box, includes a depiction of the American flag with an eagle in the foreground made from precious and semiprecious stones, includes a 9″ x 7″ frame with a gold plaque. Diamond-shaped cufflinks, made from 10-karat white gold and inset with nine blue sapphires each, presented in a 5.25″ x 5.5″ x 2.5″ wooden box. Rec'd—11/5/2011. Est. Value—$635.00. <em>A Sri Lankan coffee shop worker holds up a capaccino decorated with the national lion logo in Colombo on February 2, 2012. (Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images)</em>