Bush To Meet Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan In October

(09.12.2006, Washington D.C.)

President Bush is scheduled to welcome Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House on October 2 for discussions on a wide range of issues including the "War on Terror", Turkey's political and economic reforms and U.S. support for Turkey's accession to the European Union.

According to White House spokesman Tony Snow, "this meeting will provide an opportunity for the President and Prime Minister to further enhance the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Turkey."

During Erdogan's last visit to the White House in June 2005 (see photo), Bush praised Turkey's democracy as an "important example for the people in the broader Middle East."

One issue that will be on the table during the October meeting will be U.S. - Turkish cooperation in countering the Kurdish Worker's Party (PKK) and its actions in Turkey and northern Iraq.

***For further information on the upcoming visit see related article