"Turkish premier, US secretary of state discuss relations
05.02.2005, 20.45
ANKARA, February 5 (Itar-Tass) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on Saturday on relations between the two countries.
The U.S. Secretary of State has arrived in Ankara as part of her first tour to European and Middle East countries. She is expected to hold talks with Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
On Sunday, Rice will be received by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. According to local mass media, Rice�s visit to Turkey is being held due to the aggravation of relations between Ankara and Washington related to the situation in Iraq.
These issues will be in the focus of contacts between the Turkish leadership and Rice. In addition, the sides will discuss measures to invigorate the Middle East peace process and use Ankara�s possibilities to settle Palestinian-Israeli disagreements. "
ITAR-TASS
