ANKARA - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived in Ankara late on Sunday upon the invitation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Schroeder is the first German Chancellor visiting Turkey since a visit paid by Helmut Kohl in 1993.
Schroeder is scheduled to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer as well as Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Schroeder is also expected to meet with Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal.
German Chancellor is expected to stress support of his country to Turkey`s EU full membership bid and Ankara`s efforts exerted in Cyprus process.
Bilateral relations, Turkey`s full membership to the EU, Cyprus, Iraq, Middle East, NATO Summit scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Afghanistan and other regional and international issues will be discussed during the visit of German Chancellor.
Schroeder will also visit Istanbul and Iskenderun.
SCHROEDER VISITS ANITKABIR
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder visited Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, who is the Founder of Repuplic of Turkey.
Schroeder laid a wreath at the Mausoleum of Ataturk and observed a minute of silence.
German Chancellor Schroeder signed the special book of Anitkabir.
State Minister Ali Babacan accompanied Schroeder during his visit to Anitkabir.
ERDOGAN WELCOMES SCHROEDER WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS
Erdogan welcomed Schroeder with full military honors on Monday.
The two prime ministers will chair talks between the delegations of the two countries after they have a tete-a-tete meeting. Erdogan and Schroeder will later make a joint statement to the press.
(AA) 23.02.2004