Israel's Defense Minister due in Ankara today

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is due in Ankara today at the official invitation of his Turkish counterpart Vecdi Gonul to discuss matters of bilateral defense cooperation. After arriving this evening, Barak, who is also the leader of Israel's Labor Party, will begin his official contacts tomorrow. He will be received by President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and then have talks with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, as well as Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit.