Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Turkey on July 15-16 to participate in meetings of the fourth international contact group on Libya. During her visit, Secretary Clinton will meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and other top officials to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the conflicts in Libya and Syria.
The contact group includes more than 40 nations that are either participating in or are backing the NATO mission against the Gaddafi regime. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the meetings of the group are "part of our efforts to protect civilians and to facilitate the start of an inclusive Libyan national dialogue that will lead to the country's reconciliation and reconstruction."
Recent policy initiatives of the Turkish government concerning Libya have been supported by the US and it is expected that both countries will continue to coordinate their policies in the region. It is noteworthy that the visit of Secretary Clinton comes in the wake of Turkey’s recognition of the Transitional National Council as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people - a development that was welcomed by the United States.
In a statement on Secretary Clinton’s visit, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that "Turkey and the United States are two friends and allies. Talks continue between the two countries at all levels within the frame of a Model Partnership.”