Washington: US President Barack Obama has invited a number of key leaders from the Middle East to the White House in next few weeks to address a range of global and regional issue like Israel-Palestine peace and Syria.
“The president looks forward to welcoming his counterparts from the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Turkey to Washington over the next several weeks,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said. “As you know, President Obama has very close relationships with these leaders, and he has a deep personal interest in the region as you saw during his recent trip.
“He will use these opportunities to discuss the complex developments in the broader Middle East, so not just Syria, but including Syria,” he said.
“There are obviously a number of issues for these leaders and the president to discuss, including Syria, his recent visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, and the broader developments in the Arab Spring.
“So he looks forward to these visits, and they reflect his commitment and interest in the region and in our policies towards the region,” Carney said.
“On Thursday, May 16, President Obama will welcome Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to the White House. As friends and NATO allies, the United States and Turkey are partners in addressing a range of critical global and regional issues.
“The President looks forward to discussing these issues with the Prime Minister, to include Syria, trade and economic cooperation, and countering terrorism,” he said.
“The Prime Minister’s visit underscores the close friendship between the United States and Turkey and the strategic importance we place on broadening and strengthening our relationship moving forward,” Carney said. (PTI)
