Obama to hold separate meetings with Turkish opposition leaders

Obama, who is expected to arrive in Ankara late on April 5, wanted to meet with the leaders of the three opposition parties, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.  Â

 

But Deniz Baykal, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, and Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, said they would not meet the U.S. president in a multilateral meeting.

 

Both Baykal and Bahceli said they would have talks with Obama only if they are engaged in a tete-a-tete meeting. Â

 

Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, had expressed his willingness to meet Obama in any case.

 

After holding talks with the three opposition leaders, the U.S. president will address Turkish lawmakers in Parliament.

 

Obama, who is also scheduled to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan before leaving the NATO ally on April 7, will attend an Istanbul meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative aimed at fostering dialogue between the West and Muslim countries, and will participate in a round-table session with students.