ANKARA - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia arrived here Friday for talks with Turkish leaders on developments in conflict-ravaged Iraq and efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
King Abdullah was to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan during his stay in Turkey.
It is the fourth stop in a European tour that also included Britain, the Vatican and Germany.
"The views of our respective countries on Middle Eastern issues, primarily Iraq and the Palestinian problem, are not only similar but complementary," said a statement from Gul's office.
"The King's visit is seen as especially significant with respect to establishing security and stability in Iraq and protecting its territorial integrity during this process," it added.
Turkey is threatening to conduct military raids into northern Iraq to strike at Turkish Kurd rebels, who are using the region as a springboard for attacks on Turkish territory as part of their 23-year separatist campaign.
Ankara accuses Iraqi Kurds of supporting the rebels. It also suspects they have ambitions to break away from Iraq, in a move it fears could stoke unrest among Kurds in southeastern Turkey.
King Abdullah's visit also comes a few days before Israeli and Palestinian Presidents Shimon Peres and Mahmud Abbas arrive in the Turkish capital.
Turkey believes it has an important role to play in Middle East diplomacy, drawing on its close ties with both Israel and the Palestinians.
During his stay in Ankara, King Abdullah will decorate Gul and Erdogan with Saudi state medals while Gul will present the King with a Turkish medal.
The two sides will also sign a deal preventing double-taxation.
The King's visit is due to end Saturday.
11/09/2007 15:04 GMT