President Bush To Meet With Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey

President Bush will meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington on November 5, 2007. The meeting comes amid growing tension and frustration as Turkey seeks to stop the Kurdish rebel attacks in its territories.

The Prime Minister’s visit will help underscore the important relationship and friendship and the alliance between the United States and Turkey.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino Said “The President looks forward to continuing discussions with the Prime Minister on a range of issues on our common agenda, including the fight against terrorism, in particular our joint efforts to counter the PKK, and the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and the broader Middle East. The President and the Prime Minister will also discuss U.S. support for Turkey’s ascension to the European Union and Turkey’s efforts towards that goal.”

In answer to a question about the Turkish Prime Minister reaffirming his readiness to send troops into Northern Iraq, despite U.S. opposition she said “We have a joint desire, a joint need to make sure that the PKK is eradicated, that they are stopped. We understand that the Turks feel that they want to protect their people, and that their soldiers should not be attacked. There are currently eight missing; they have a right to look for them. And the President will talk to them about exercising restraint, limiting the actions against the PKK, and also he will talk to them about making sure that they continue to have that dialogue with the Iraqis, because ultimately the neighbors need to work together to make sure that they solve this problem.”

She refused to give a direct answer to whether the President will be offering any direct U.S. action or promise of Iraqi action.

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