Turkish leader arrives in Qatar for meetings with emir

ANKARA

Turkey's President on Monday arrived in 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), and arrived at Hamad International Airport in Doha at 12.40 p.m. local time (0940GMT).

Among those welcoming Erdogan at the airport were Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah, Turkish Ambassador to Qatar Fikret Ozer and other officials from the embassy.

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, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, and Hakan Fidan, head of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

* Writing by Burak Bir and Jeyhun Aliyev