Erdogan holds talks in Qatar

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, currently on visit to Qatar, attended a luncheon hosted by Qatari Emir Khalifa Al Thani. Afterwards, Erdogan met separately with visiting Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and French socialist Segolene Royal, who was a leading contender in last year's French presidential election. After the gatherings, Erdogan said they had discussed relations between Turkey and Qatar, international issues such as the situation in Iraq, Israel, Palestine and the Middle East, as well as Turkey's European Union accession process. Erdogan also met with Turks living in Qatar. Speaking at a gathering of Turkish-Qatari businessmen, Erdogan said, "For Europe, Turkey is a gateway to the Middle East, and for the Middle East, it is a gateway to Europe. This is a chance for Qataris." Erdogan is also set to meet with Qatar's Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al Athiyya, accompanied by his Turkish counterpart Hilmi Guler, to discuss energy cooperation opportunities.