Turkish Deputy Chief Of General Staff In Washington

WASHINGTON - Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Ilker Basbug, who is paying a visit to the United States as the official guest of Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace, arrived in Washington on Wednesday to hold meetings with high-level U.S. officials.
Basbug told reporters that he would discuss all important issues concerning Turkey and the United States in his meetings with U.S. officials on Wednesday and Thursday.
Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Basbug visited bases of the U.S. armed forces in Louisiana and Florida before he came to Washington.
Basbug is expected to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and U.S. President's Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley later in the day.
Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Basbug is also expected to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Elizabeth Jones on Thursday.
Sources said that Iraq, developments in Middle East, Cyprus, bilateral defense issues and defense industry programs were among issues Basbug would take up in his meetings.
(BRC-AÖ) 17.03.2004