Ankara:
US President Barack Obama arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Sunday on the last leg of an eight-day European tour.
His two-day trip in the predominantly Muslim nation is as symbolic of unity as it is strategic, following talks and handshakes with heads of Group of 20 nations, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the European Union.
Obama's path across Europe leads to a Muslim people with secular ideals, a stable nation in an unstable region, and a city, Istanbul, that straddles a strait between the Asian and European continents.
He is scheduled to attend a reception of the Alliance of Civilisations, which will be held in Istanbul on Monday and Tuesday.
The forum, sponsored by Turkey and Spain, aims to foster dialogue between the West and the Muslim world.
Obama was in Prague earlier Sunday and urged European Union leaders to accept Turkey as a member in the bloc.
He told EU leaders that the West should seek greater cooperation and closer ties with Islamic nations, and that letting Turkey into the EU would be an important sign of those efforts.
France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU.
Others in the Union have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.
In talks with Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, and Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama is expected to try to sell his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
His two-day trip in the predominantly Muslim nation is as symbolic of unity as it is strategic, following talks and handshakes with heads of Group of 20 nations, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the European Union.
Obama's path across Europe leads to a Muslim people with secular ideals, a stable nation in an unstable region, and a city, Istanbul, that straddles a strait between the Asian and European continents.
He is scheduled to attend a reception of the Alliance of Civilisations, which will be held in Istanbul on Monday and Tuesday.
The forum, sponsored by Turkey and Spain, aims to foster dialogue between the West and the Muslim world.
Obama was in Prague earlier Sunday and urged European Union leaders to accept Turkey as a member in the bloc.
He told EU leaders that the West should seek greater cooperation and closer ties with Islamic nations, and that letting Turkey into the EU would be an important sign of those efforts.
France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU.
Others in the Union have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.
In talks with Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, and Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama is expected to try to sell his strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
