Israel's foreign minister to visit Turkey on Monday

An Israeli diplomatic source said yesterday that the Israeli foreign minister Selvan Shaloum will visit Ankara on Monday to hold talks especially on the war against Iraq.

The Israeli embassy in Ankara said that Shaloum will pay "a several hour visit" to Ankara to meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, with the prime minister Tayeb Ardogan and with President Ahmad Ceaser.

This work visit will be the first contact between officials of the two countries since the government of the Justice And Development Party in Turkey assumed authority in Turkey in October 2002.

Turkey, a Muslim state of a secular system, is Israel's main's alley since 1996, when a military cooperation agreement signed between the two sides provoked the anger of the majority of the Arab states and Iran.