 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan departed early Tuesday for a visit to the United States aimed at further repairing ties strained after Turkey refused to allow U.S. troops in during the Iraqi invasion. During Erdogan's planned meeting Wednesday with President Bush, the Turkish leader said he also would bring up the increasingly bloody fight against Iraqi-based Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey. "The relationship between Turkey and the United States is based ... on mutual respect and strategic partnership," Erdogan said before departing. "No doubt, Turkey is the insurance of welfare and stability in the region and it will continue to do its best to contribute to security in the region." |