GUL GOES TO US FOR KEY TALKS

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Feb 5 2007

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is paying an official visit to
the U.S. to hold key talks. Possible cross-border operations as well
as Iraq, Iran, Cyprus issue and EU are expected to be discussed.

"I believe that my visit to the U.S. will further develop the
cooperation between the two allied countries in every area," Gul said
during his press conference in Ankara before going to U.S. Diplomatic
sources said that "Gul will seek U.S. support in cracking down on
the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists. It’s a major
security concern for Turkey"

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack, in his press release
last week, stressed that Gul and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice will meet to discuss key issues on recent developments including
cross-border issue, Iran, Iran, Cyprus issue and EU.

Gul will meet Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and President George W. Bush’s National Security
Adviser Stephen Hadley during his forthcoming visit to Washington.

The foreign minister is also scheduled to meet with Tom Lantos, the
chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign
Affairs to discuss a recent draft introduced in Congress to recognize
Armenian genocide claims.

Gul will also meet new United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon on
Friday and will discuss Cyprus problem. During the meeting Gul will
express Ankara’s support for Undersecretary General for Political
Affairs Ibrahim Gambari’s initiative and will ask Ki-moon to be alive
previous actions.