Fischer tours archaeological sites

As part of his two-day private visit to Turkey, Austrian President Heinz Fischer yesterday toured various archaeological sites along with his wife Margit Fischer. The Fischer couple paid a visit to the Temple of Apollo located in the district of Didim and the ancient town of Miletus, where they were briefed about the temple by Martin Bachmann of the German Archaeological Institute. Afterwards, Fischer and his wife Margit Fischer proceeded to the ancient town of Ephesus, where they listened to a concert of the Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra in the Celcius Library along with Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay. Addressing the audience prior to the concert, Fischer acknowledged how warmly he had been received in Turkey. Noting that Turkey and Austria have been enjoying very good relations, Fischer said, "I have met with President Abdullah Gul for four times in the last one and a half years. I believe that considerably intense and close relations enjoyed by the two countries are quite good." Furthermore, President Abdullah Gul held a meeting with Fischer in the village of Sirince which is attached to the district of Selcuk as part of his contacts in Izmir. The Fischer couple concluded their tour in the ancient city of Troy in northwestern city of Canakkale.