Erdogan and Gul in New York

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül left for New York on Sunday to attend a UN summit, at which he is expected to hold talks with foreign ministers of some 40 countries, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. On the issue of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Gul said that he would be of course discussing it with Rice and he also stressed that the issue would be high on his agenda at all meetings. “Of course it will be a part of our discussions,” he said when he was asked whether the PKK issue would be taken up in his planned meeting with Rice. “This issue will remain on the table until the United States carries out an effective struggle against the PKK.” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan headed for the US on Monday where he will join Gul at the UN summit. The PM is expected to meet with world leaders for bilateral talks, including: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.�