Gul to ray first-ever presidental visit to Yemen

President Abdullah Gul is scheduled to leave today for a two-day official visit to Sana'a, at the invitation of his Yemeni counerpart Ali Abdullah Saleh, the first-ever presidential-level visit from Turkey to Yemen. Accompanying Gul will be Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, and Health Minister Recep Akdag, as well as various deputies, academics, businessmen and members of the media. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu may also make the trip, according to diplomatic sources, thus postponing his previously scheduled visit to Iraq. That visit, meant to pave the way for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Iraq, will take place within 10 days, the sources added. While in Sana'a, in addition to holding talks with senior officials, Gul will deliver a speech to the Turkey-Yemen Business Forum. He will also inaugurate a Turkish cemetery and a high school restored by the Turkish government. The two countries are expected to sign an agreement for cooperation among their military industries, as Turkey is keen to help Yemen develop its military industry, Yemeni media reported last week, citing Turkish diplomats. Yemen has repeatedly invited President Gul to pay the country a visit, which he last visited in 2005 as foreign minister.