Turkish leader en route to Qatar for meetings with emir

By Yildiz Aktas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's President on Monday headed to Qatar's capital Doha to attend the fifth meeting of the Turkey-Qatar High Strategic Committee.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan left on the Turkish presidential plane from Esenboga Airport in the capital Ankara at 9.25 a.m. local time (0625GMT).

During his visit, Erdogan is to meet with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who together will co-chair the high strategic committee, as well as attend an official dinner given by Al-Thani in his honor.

Erdogan is also expected to visit the Qatar-Turkey Combined Joint Force Command in the Gulf nation.

Erdogan is accompanied by a delegation of top Turkish officials including Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak, National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Communications Director Fahrettin Altun, and Hakan Fidan, head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).