LOC21:15
18:15 GMT
ANKARA, March 10 (KUNA) -- US President Barack Obama visits Turkey early
next month to participate in the annual Forum of the UN Alliance of
Civilizations, due to be held in Istanbul, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.
Hurriyet newspaper quoted the sources in its website as saying that Obama
would take part in the Forum at the invitation of Turkish and Spanish Prime
Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Jose Rodriguez Zapatero respectively, who
would co-chair the forum, slated for April 6-7.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had announced during her visit to
Ankara three days ago that Obama would be visiting Turkey but did not specify
the date.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in a statement to the press today, said
Obama's visit was significant because it would coincide with "decisive"
developments in the Middle East.
He said a new era of relations had begun after the new American
Administration announced its new policy towards its friends and allies. (end)
mm.bs
KUNA 102115 Mar 09NNNN