President Mary McAleese of Ireland was welcomed by Turkish President Abdullah Gul with a formal ceremony at the Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara on Tuesday.

Following a bilateral meeting between Gul and McAleese and talks between delegations of the two countries, the two presidents will appear at a joint press conference.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with McAleese at the Prime Ministry residence.

The Irish president and Turkey's Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin will attend talks between delegations at the Turkish parliament.

McAleese will attend a banquet to be held in her honor by President Gul.


AA