NEW : Turkey is `` Islamic democracy in action , '' State Dept . spokesman says . The U.S. has been trying to get the Turks and Kurds together for years Turkey 's foreign ministry says Perry made `` baseless '' claims . The relationship between Ankara and Washington has improved recently .
NEW : Turkey is `` Islamic democracy in action , '' State Dept . spokesman says . Perry suggested that Turkey 's rulers are perceived by some as Islamic terrorists . Turkey 's foreign ministry says Perry made `` baseless '' claims . The relationship between Ankara and Washington has improved recently .