Washington: The Turkish president's visit to the White House is seen as a major sign of improved relations between NATO allies after five years of acrimony over the Iraq war and US policy on Turkey's fight against Kurdish rebels.

President Abdullah Gul's meeting with President George W Bush follows a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan two months ago that resulted in a commitment by Bush to share intelligence on Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, rebels and not to object to Turkish air strikes against the Kurdish guerrillas installations in northern Iraq.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters today that Bush will discuss with the Turkish president the possibility of forging a "long-term political solution." She did not elaborate. Perino said talks must continue to include Iraqi leaders.

"We are going to encourage an open dialogue which they have had over the last couple of months, sometimes in fits and starts.... This has been going on for so long, it's time to put a stop to it," Perino said. The two sides have even established a coordination center in Ankara so Turks, Iraqis and Americans can share information.

The first Turkish air strike was December 16 and used intelligence shared by Washington. Two days later, a small Turkish ground force invaded Iraqi Kurdistan to flush out Turkish Kurds sheltering there. Washington tacitly approved. The PKK has been fighting for two decades to win a Kurdish homeland in eastern Turkey.

Source : PTI