Gul meets with Iran's Khamenei, Ahmedinejad

President Abdullah Gul and an accompanying delegation yesterday arrived in Tehran to attend the 10th summit meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization. Speaking to reporters at Esenboga Airport, he said US President Back Obama's visit to Turkey next month was important for both nations, adding that they share a similar approach to global and regional issues. Asked if Obama visiting a majority-Muslim country like Turkey so soon in his presidency sends a message to Muslim countries, Gul said that the visit will be a message in itself. Saying the visit will usher in a new era, Gul added, "Troubles between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Iran issue are very important in this era." In Tehran, Gul first met with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, followed by his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. He will return to Turkey after the summit and bilateral talks with attending countries' heads of state.