ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will go on a regional trip including Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Gul would pay a working visit to headquarters of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Jeddah as the acting president of the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting between 3rd-4th April.
Gul will also visit Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates of United Arab Emirates between 5th-7th April.
Foreign Ministry stated that Gul`s visit to OIC Secretariat was an expression of Turkey`s support to the organisation and its work. Gul will also discuss with OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu about the needs of OIC and its reform studies.
``Turkey attaches special importance to relations with OIC and actively supports the efforts of Ihsanoglu to make the organisation more effective and functional,`` Ministry said.
Gul will also open the Second Turkish Machinery and Machine Equipment Fair in which 55 Turkish companies will attend in Jeddah.
In his meetings in UAE, Gul is expected to exhange views with UAE President, deputy prime minister and other officials about bilateral and regional issues.
Gul`s visit to UAE is expected to speed up the economic cooperation between the two countries.