Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Gul, Bush to discuss strengthening strategic partnership

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Gul, Bush to discuss strengthening strategic partnership

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Jan 4 2008


    Gül, Bush to discuss strengthening strategic partnership


    President Abdullah Gül will become the first Turkish president in 11
    years to visit the US next week, where he is scheduled to discuss
    bilateral ties and ways to strengthen the strategic partnership
    between the two NATO allies with President George W. Bush.


    In addition to Bush, Gül is also expected to meet with Vice President
    Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense
    Secretary Robert Gates during his visit on Jan. 7-11. The invitation
    for the visit was extended by the US side, officials said.
    Five minutes after Gül took over his post, Bush phoned him to
    congratulate and invite him to Washington, a Turkish official close
    to the issue said yesterday. The same official dismissed media claims
    that Bush will have only a brief meeting with Gül, just before he
    departs for a tour of the Middle East, and said the length of the
    talks would be standard.

    The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said talks would
    cover a number of issues including the Palestinian conflict, Iran's
    nuclear program and the situation in Lebanon, Afghanistan and
    Pakistan. But the main focus of Gül's meetings will be Turkish-US
    ties. The Turkish side is expected to raise the issue of efforts in
    the US Congress to pass a resolution recognizing Armenian claims of
    genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire and ask the US
    administration to continue with its efforts to prevent the resolution
    >From being passed.

    After talks with top members of the US administration, Gül will meet
    with UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon in New York and discuss
    prospects to restart UN-led efforts to reunite Cyprus. He will also
    meet former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Richard
    Holbrooke, a former US assistant secretary of state, as well as
    representatives of Jewish American groups, including the influential
    Anti-Defamation League. Gül is expected to meet representatives of
    Meskhetian Turks living in the US as well in New York.

    Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Energy Minister Hilmi Güler, Economy
    Minister Mehmet ªimºek and a general from the General Staff will
    accompany Gül during his visit. The last time a Turkish president
    visited Washington was in 1996, during the term of former President
    Süleyman Demirel.


    04.01.2008

    Süleyman Kurt Ankara

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X