ANKARA - The U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman arrived in Ankara on Tuesday to hold contacts.
Grossman and Wolfowitz will be received by Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and meet with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis within the framework of their contacts.
National Defense Ministry and General Staff are also included in the program of Grossman and Wolfowitz who will participate in interdelegational meetings. The Turkish delegation will be led by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.
Grossman will proceed to Cyprus on Wednesday, and Wolfowitz is expected to return to the United States.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said that they will mainly take up the issue of Iraq and Turkey-EU relations in their contacts in Ankara.
Speaking at Esenboga Airport, Wolfowitz said that they would first of all discuss the Iraqi issue with the best ally of the U.S., Turkey.
Wolfowitz said that they would discuss the method of implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 1441 by peaceful ways, adding that the U.S. prefers peaceful solution of the Iraqi problem and that they ask help from their partners and allies to this end.
Another issue on the agenda is Turkey-EU relations, Wolfowitz said, adding that the U.S. does its best to support Turkey's wish to join the EU. ''We want to listen to Turkish officials about the things we can do in this issue,'' said Wolfowitz.
He stressed that the U.S. is aware of the fact that Turkey has certain economic difficulties, adding better days would come for Turkey.
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend a special dinner to be hosted for Marc Grossman and Wolfowitz in U.S. Embassy in Ankara this evening.