Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > January, 2006

Prime Minister Visits Turkey (First Day) Tuesday, January 10, 2006 JAPANESE Click photographs to enlarge Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left on the government plane from Haneda Airport on January 9 to visit the Republic of Turkey and arrived in the capital city of Ankara on the same evening (Japan time: early morning of January 10). In the morning of January 10 (Japan time: afternoon of January 10), Prime Minister Koizumi visited the Ataturk Memorial commemorating Mr. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first President of Turkey, and offered flowers. Afterwards, Prime Minister Koizumi wrote in the visitor's book, "I would like to express my respect for the achievements of Turkey's founding father Ataturk. I hope for the further enhancement of the friendship between Japan and Turkey." In the afternoon, Prime Minister Koizumi met with Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the President of Turkey. Prime Minister Koizumi then attended a welcome ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister, which was followed by a meeting with Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey. At the meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi announced that Japan would consider holding commemorative events in 2010 (120th anniversary of Japan-Turkey friendly relations) in Turkey. In addition, the leaders agreed to consider concrete efforts for cooperation regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue and reconstruction in Iraq. Furthermore, the leaders shared the recognition that both countries would work together on the critical issues facing the international community including Iran's nuclear issue, the reform of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, and measures against international terrorism. View Video (Available only in Japanese) Real(Narrowband) / Real(Broadband) Windows Media(Narrowband) / Windows Media(Broadband)