LOC11:21
08:21 GMT
Chief of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen
ISTANBUL, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Chief of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen is scheduled to arrive in Ankara later on Friday for talks with high-ranking Turkish military officers over closer cooperation.
Mullen is expected to meet new Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Isik Kosaner, on ways and means of promoting and developing US-Turkish military cooperation, and to share views on a set of regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Turkish Anatolia news agency reported.
During his stay in Ankara, the US army chief is also expected to hold talks with Turkish army officials on planned US troop withdrawal from Iraq, together with a US request from Turkey to use its territory for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The talks may also include the Iranian nuclear crisis, Anatolia said.
US President Barack Obama had previously ordered the end of combat operations by Aug. 31 in a step toward the full withdrawal of American forces by the end of next year that was mandated in a US-Iraqi security agreement. (end) ta.mt KUNA 031121 Sep 10NNNN