Turkish FM to visit U.S. to remove doubts on its foreign policy

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to visit the United States on Saturday amid discussions that Turkey's foreign policy has shifted axis, Turkish sources said on Friday.

In a bid to remove Washington's doubts on Turkey's foreign policy perspective, Davutoglu is set to talk with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and representatives of the U.S. Congress, focusing on such issues as the U.S.-led missile shield project of NATO, Iran's nuclear program, the sources who asked not to be named said.

According to the source, the two sides are also expected to discuss the Turkish-Israeli relations. Tensions between them flared in May 2010 when Israel attacked a Turkish ship, part of a flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip. Nine activists were killed in the operation.

During the visit, Davutoglu will also meet with U.S. National Security adviser Tom Donilon and other politicians like House Democrat leader Steny Hoyer and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry.

Meanwhile, the Turkish foreign minister is expected to receive the Foreign Policy's "Top 100 Global Intellectuals" award, the sources added.

Source: Xinhua