Turkish Press
Dec 6 2009

Prime Minister leaves for the US as Turkish-American relations gain momentum

Published: 12/6/2009

A key White House meeting with US President Barack Obama and Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set for Monday as Turkey-US
relations have gained impetus amid common interests and diverging
priorities.

The agenda of the meeting comprises several issues of vital importance
such as Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East peace process, the
Caucasus, the Balkans, fight against terror and energy supply
security.

US President’s proposal calling NATO members for deploying additional
troops in Afghanistan appears at the top of Obama-Erdogan meeting. The
Prime Minister is expected to reiterate Turkey’s decision not to send
combatant troops to Afghanistan.

Monday’s meeting will also comprise possible sanctions on Iran’s
nuclear programme and Turkey’s objective to eliminate terror,
specifically in the north of Iraq, before the US fully withdraws from
Iraqi soil.

Accordingly, Prime Minister Erdogan may raise the question of
extradition of terrorist leaders who have been named in the US list of
drug smugglers.

Two leaders are also expected to consider Cyprus peace talks,
amelioration of Turkish-Armenian relations with regards to
long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the Caucasus and energy
supply security in Turkey’s region.