ANKARA - As news stories and comments about a possible operation of the United States against Iraq have been high on agenda of both Turkey and the world, Ankara will host Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European, Canadian and Iraqi Affairs Elizabeth Jones the same day.
Jones and Aziz are expected to arrive in Ankara on Monday. They will start holding contacts on Tuesday.
After her meetings with U.S. Embassy officials, Jones will hold a series of contacts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Jones is expected to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and with chairmen of Middle East, Cyprus and NATO departments.
She will also meet with Justice Minister Aysel Celikel, Presidential Spokesman and Foreign Affairs Chief Adviser Tacan Ildem and with military officials.
During contacts of Jones with Turkish officials, issues such as Iraq, Cyprus, the European Union (EU), NATO's expansion, European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States will be taken up in detail.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Aziz will also come to Ankara.
During the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer received Aziz. Aziz told President Sezer that he wanted to pay a visit to Turkey.
Meanwhile, a source told the A.A correspondent, ''any invitation was not made by Turkey. Aziz wanted to come to Turkey. He will meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Aziz does not have any other scheduled meetings in Ankara.''