(Zaman) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara Tuesday evening as part of his Middle East tour seeking regional backing for the international peacekeeping force to be deployed in Lebanon. Ankara will remind Annan of two important issues he attaches importance to, the Cyprus problem and Kerkuk (Kirkuk), as well as the developments in Lebanon, reports Trend.
Annan will meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul during his visit in which talks are expected to focus on the developments in Lebanon.
Ankara is also expected to ask the U.N. Secretary-General, whose term will end in December, to take steps to contribute to solving the Cyprus problem.
In this context, Annan will be asked to brief his successor about his Cyprus experience, the initiatives taken and the past actions taken by both parties on the island.
Ankara will reiterate the positive steps Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus took for a permanent solution.
Turkey wants the report prepared after the referendum on the island, in which Greek Cypriots said no, and the Turkish Cypriots said yes, to be handled by the U.N.
Turkeys concerns about the developments in Iraq and Kirkuk will also be communicated to Annan.
Efforts to change the demographic structure in Kirkuk before the referendum expected to be held in late 2007 have caused Turkey great concern.
Annans support will be sought to preserve Kirkuks special status. The Middle East problem and the Iranian nuclear crisis will also be discussed with Annan.
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