Under Secretary Burns to travel to Turkey and the Middle East

ArmRadio.am
19.01.2007 11:03

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns will
visit Turkey, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and the United Arab
Emirates January 18-23, 2007. In Ankara January 18-19, he will meet
with Prime Minister Erdogan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul as well as other Turkish diplomatic and
defense officials to discuss bilateral and regional issues. Turkey is
a valued NATO ally and Under Secretary Burns will discuss Iraq, Iran,
and bilateral issues with Turkish officials. He will assert strong US
support for Turkey’s defense against attacks by the PKK.

Under Secretary Burns will then travel to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem,
where he will meet with Prime Minister Olmert and other Israeli
officials. He will lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Israel
Strategic Dialogue talks focusing on the Middle East, including the
challenge posed by Iran. Under Secretary Burns will also meet with
Palestinian officials in Jerusalem.

On January 22-23, he will visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) where he will meet with UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of
Dubai Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum, UAE Foreign Minister
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and
Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al
Nahyan to discuss regional and bilateral issues.