US national security advisor, ıranian FM both due in Ankara

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan yesterday said that US President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley will visit Ankara today and, in a separate development, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will visit tomorrow. In an interview with news channel NTV, Babacan said that the two countries are trying to lay the groundwork for possible negotiations on Iran's nuclear program and that a new initiative on the issue could be announced. He also said that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was holding contacts on issue. Stating that Turkey is pursuing an impartial policy on Iran's nuclear program, Babacan said that he was opposed to nuclear weapons, but it was Tehran's right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Hadley will meet with Babacan and be received by President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During their talks, Iran's nuclear program as well as the fight against terrorism and Iraq will be discussed. Mottaki's schedule has not yet been finalized, aside from his meeting with Babacan. DATE.17-07-08