US: Turkish PM meets Turkish-U.S. opinion leaders

By Safvan Allahverdi

WASHINGTON (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim continued his meetings in the U.S. capital amid signs of improving relations between Washington and Ankara.

On the second day of his visit, Yildirim met Turkish-U.S. opinion leaders at the Turkish Ambassador's residence in the U.S. capital Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party Deputy Chairman Mehmet Mus, parliamentarians Volkan Bozkir and Mustafa Sentop as well as Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic and Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Kerim Uras were also present at the meeting which lasted about two hours.

Some prominent U.S. diplomats and representatives of think tanks attended the meeting which was closed to press.

Yildirim will also to meet U.S. Vice President Mike Pence Thursday at the White House, on the last day of his visit in Washington followed by a trip to New York City.

The two men are expected to discuss economic and military ties, as well as unstable situations in Syria and Iraq.

But more contentious issues are also expected be examined, including the refugee crisis on Turkey’s border, a visa row, Daesh, the PKK/PYD terror groups and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).