Turkey's President Abdullah Gul is due today to open a four-day visit to Germany, which is home to some 2.5 million people of Turkish background.
Gul is expected to hold talks with German President Christian Wulff, who is expected to take Gul on a visit to the German president's hometown, the western city of Osnabrueck.
The two presidents are expected to co-chair a meeting of the Turkish-German Business Forum, while Gul will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
The Turkish president's visit expected to include talks on Turkey's bid to join the European Union, and Germany's refusal so far to back Turkey's full membership in the EU.
Talks on the recent political upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa are also expected.
Gul's visit comes on the 50th anniversary of an agreement that opened the way for the mass immigration of Turkish workers to Germany.
The visit comes as Turkish state media is citing Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay as saying Ankara will freeze its relations with the EU if Cyprus is given the rotating EU Presidency in 2012 as due.
compiled from agency reports
Gul is expected to hold talks with German President Christian Wulff, who is expected to take Gul on a visit to the German president's hometown, the western city of Osnabrueck.
The two presidents are expected to co-chair a meeting of the Turkish-German Business Forum, while Gul will also meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.
The Turkish president's visit expected to include talks on Turkey's bid to join the European Union, and Germany's refusal so far to back Turkey's full membership in the EU.
Talks on the recent political upheavals in the Middle East and North Africa are also expected.
Gul's visit comes on the 50th anniversary of an agreement that opened the way for the mass immigration of Turkish workers to Germany.
The visit comes as Turkish state media is citing Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay as saying Ankara will freeze its relations with the EU if Cyprus is given the rotating EU Presidency in 2012 as due.
compiled from agency reports
