German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Turkey on March 29 on a two-day state visit.

During her second visit to Turkey as the chancellor of Germany since 2006, Merkel will meet with representatives of some opposition parties after visiting the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

She is set to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Merkel will be received by President Abdullah Gul and partake in a banquet to be hosted in his honor by Prime Minister Erdogan.

She will proceed to Istanbul later in the same day.

On the second day of her visit, Merkel will visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. After taking part in a panel discussion with students at the German High School, Merkel will meet with religious representatives of German community in Istanbul.

Besides Chancellery Commissioner for Migration, Refugees, and Integration Maria Boehmer, a number of Turkish and German businessmen will accompany Merkel during her visit.

Turkey-Germany bilateral relations as well as Turkey-European Union relations, the Cyprus issue, the Middle East peace process and the nuclear crisis with Iran are expected to top the agenda of the meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and Chancellor Merkel.


AA