Barack Obama, Abdullah Gul discuss Turkey-Armenia nornalization

U.S. President Barack Obama discussed the developments in the normalization process between Turkey and Armenia and the Cyprus issue in a phone conversation with Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Saturday.

The two leaders spoke about the "historic progress" being made to normalize relations between Turkey and Armenia "and the importance of maintaining the momentum in this important effort," read a statement by the White House.

The relationship between Turkey and Armenia has been improving recently. The two countries signed historic deals last week that were backed by world powers to end decades of hostility, establish formal ties and open their border.

Obama and Gül also discussed "the need for sustained engagement in resolving the Cyprus problem and in promoting stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina," the White House said.

"The two presidents agreed on the importance of continued consultations on these and other key topics on the global security agenda."

Another issue discussed was the situation in Afghanistan, the statement added, as Obama weighs whether to dramatically ramp up the U.S. effort there.

Obama "expressed appreciation for Turkey's contributions, and the two leaders agreed to work closely together in the critical weeks ahead," the White House said.

The call came as Obama is considering whether to vastly expand the amount of U.S. resources invested in the eight-year-long war, including the deployment of tens of thousands more troops amid some of the conflict's worst violence and an Afghan government roiled by allegations of fraud in August elections.

The telephone conversation with Gül covered a range of issues, "reflecting the broad strategic dialogue the United States conducts with this key ally," the White House said in a statement.

But the White House did not say whether the two leaders discussed Turkey's rocky relations with Israel, amid a recent exchange of verbal volleys between the two strategic allies.