U.S. Central Commander Due In Turkey

ANKARA (AA) - General John Abizaid, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, would arrive in Turkey tomorrow (Tuesday), sources said on Monday.
     Sources said that Gen. Abizaid would meet Gen. Ilker Basbug, Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul during his two-day visit in Turkish capital of Ankara.
     The same sources stated that this (earlier scheduled) visit has nothing to do with the trilateral meeting expected to be held between Turkish, Iraqi and U.S. officials in Ankara also on Tuesday.
     On the other hand, this trilateral meeting to be held to decide how to eliminate the terrorist organization PKK/Kongra-Gel from north of Iraq, will start at Ankara's Bilkent Hotel tomorrow morning.
     Turkey will be represented by Osman Koruturk, Turkey's Special Representative to Iraq, while Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid al-Bayati will attend the meeting on behalf of his country. Laura Kennedy, the U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, will participate in the meeting on behalf of the United States.
     (BRC-ULG)
2005-01-10