WASHINGTON - Turkey's Foreign Minister, Ali Babacan, who is visiting Washington, held meetings with U.S. Congressmen on Wednesday.
Babacan's first meeting was with Republican Whip, Congressman Roy Blunt. Babacan later got together with members of U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations committee including Democrat Senator John Kerry-- who ran for President in 2003-- .
Babacan also met Foreign Relations Committee Chairman California Congressman Howard Berman and attended the reception hosted in his honour by U.S. Congress Turkey working group and Turkey Friendship group.
Babacan expressed his pleasure over the removal of the suggestion to separate Iraq to three regions from U.S. agenda during his meetings. His interlocutors asked Babacan about Turkey's foreign policy, the Armenian allegations and the Cyprus issue.
Babacan said he was hopeful about the new period in the island and expressed his wish that the window opportunity would be used. He expressed his expectancy for the Armenian bill to be prevented from harming Turkish-Armenian relations.
Babacan will meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Thursday. Babacan, Rice and the accompanying delegations are expected to get together over a working luncheon.
(OZG-AÖ)
(DIP)