ANKARA - Turkish President Abdullah Gul has arrived in Ankara on Monday morning.
Gul was in New York to attend the 63 session meetings of the United Nations General Assembly.
President Gul delivered a speech on international issues at the UN General Assembly. He had bilateral meetings with around 40 heads of state and government, including the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Abdullah Gul also delivered a speech at a UN meeting on Africa.
Gul received an award from the Foreign Policy Association for his contributions to the Middle East peace.
President Gul held meetings with business representatives and rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
Sources told that Gul's bilateral meetings in New York carry high importance as Turkey is a candidate for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the term 2009-2010. A total of 192 countries would vote in mid-October to determine the new non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Turkey competes against Iceland and Austria for the spot in the UN Security Council.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who accompanied Gul while in New York, continues to stay in New York and will hold talks with various leaders.
(SOL-AÖ)
(DIP)