This will be the first visit to Turkey by an Indian Prime Minister in the last 15 years. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi had come to Turkey in 1988. External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha arrived here today on a day-long visit to this Mediterranean country.
Sinha reached here from Damascus after holding wide-ranging talks with the Syrian leadership, including President Bashar Al Assad, Prime Minister Mustafa Mero and Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Farouk Al Shara on developments in Iraq, Palestine and issues of bilateral concern.
Sinha's talks in Ankara with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to prepare the ground for the Prime Minsiter's visit to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Turkey, which is a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Bureau Report