ANKARA - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in Ankara on Monday for official visit.
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and Turkey's Rome Ambassador Necati Utkan welcomed Berlusconi and accompanying delegation at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
Berlusconi will be welcomed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan with an official ceremony after his visit to Ataturk's Mausoleum. Erdogan and Berlusconi will hold a joint press conference following their lunch.
Berlusconi, who will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, will take up bilateral economic relations, Iraq issue and various regional issues during his meetings.
The visit of Berlusconi is also important because Italy will take over the European Union (EU) Term Presidency as of July 1.
(GC-AÖ) 12.05.2003