OBAMA TO MEET ERDOGAN IN WASHINGTON ON TUESDAY

Hurriyet
April 12 2010
Turkey

U.S. President Barack Obama will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday on the sidelines of his nuclear security
summit in Washington, the White House said.

The meeting, which was not previously announced, will occur just over
a week after Turkey decided to return its ambassador to Washington
after a row over moves in Congress to label the World War I killings
of Armenians as genocide.

"We very much wanted to have this opportunity to consult with Prime
Minister Erdogan on a range of pressing issues that the United States
and Turkey are working together on," Ben Rhodes, a deputy national
security advisor, said during a Sunday press conference, adding that
the talks would focus on Iran, the Armenian normalization process,
nuclear non-proliferation and other issues.

Last week, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs did not list Erdogan among
the leaders of foreign countries who would have a bilateral meeting
with Obama.

Asked why the meeting was scheduled at the last minute, Rhodes said
that, it was just matter of finding time. "There is obviously a very
busy schedule here, 47 leaders and a full schedule of meetings around
the summit that the president has to preside over … But because of
his role as the host of this summit it’s very important for him to
lead the discussions throughout the two days."

The National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer also confirmed the
meeting to the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review via e-mail. "The
United States and Turkey are NATO allies and work together to advance
a broad agenda of shared strategic priorities. The president looks
forward to continuing his consultations with Prime Minister Erdogan on
a wide range of issues of mutual concern, including preventing nuclear
proliferation and resolving regional issues for the benefit of all."

Hammer also said the time and place of the meeting is not clear,
however the meeting will be in a bilateral fashion as announced.

Turkey recalled Ambassador Namık Tan on March 4 immediately after
the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a
resolution branding the 1915 killings of Armenians during the last
days of Ottoman Empire as genocide.