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Barack Obama, the US president, is set to hold talks with senior Turkish officials aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Washington and Ankara.
Obama, who is in Ankara on the last leg of an eight-day European tour, is also scheduled to address the Turkish parliament.
Obama's two-day visit to Turkey is his first trip to a Muslim country as US president.
In the talks, Obama is expected to try to sell his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which includes proposals to counter a persistent Taliban and al-Qaeda campaign.
Obama will also "reaffirm US support of Turkey's bid to become a member of the EU", a US official said.
France, Austria and other nations oppose Turkey's long-running efforts to join the EU. Others in the organization have urged Turkey to do more to guarantee minority rights, curb the powers of its military and pass new rights for trade unions.
Recent tiffs
While Turkey has been long regarded as a close US ally in the Muslim world, some analysts believe there has been a cooling of ties during the administration of George Bush, the former US president.
However, Obama hopes his visit will strengthen US-Turkish relations strained by the Iraq war.
Washington and Ankara had been sharply at odds in recent years over such issues as how to deal with Iran's nuclear program, the rise to power of Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza, and political developments in Sudan.
While in Turkey, Obama will visit Istanbul to meet religious leaders, tour historical sites and hold a round-table meeting with university students.
He is also scheduled to attend a reception of the Alliance of Civilizations, a forum which aims to foster dialogue between the West and the Muslim world.
The Turkish authorities have taken unprecedented security measures in view of Obama's visit.
A street leading to the hotel where the US president is staying in Ankara has been blocked off. Military jets and police helicopters have been instructed to patrol the capital's skies.
There have been huge protests preceding Obama's visit across many Turkish cities.
Protesters said the US president is seeking to pressure Turkey to deploy troops in Afghanistan in an effort to control the situation there.
PHOTO CAPTION
US President Barack Obama, disembarks Air Force One, at the Esenboga airport in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, April 5, 2009.
Al-Jazeera
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