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U.S Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L)
speaks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (R) as they make
their way to a media conference at NATO headquarters in
Brussels, Jan. 15, 2007. (Xinhua File Photo/Xu Jinquan)
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates kicked off late Saturday a visit to Europe where he is
expected to have meetings on sensitive issues such as U.S. planned anti-missile
installations and U.S.-Turkey ties.
Gates is due to spend Sunday and Monday in Ukraine,
meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko as well as Turkey's Defense
Minister Vecdi Gonul, the Pentagon said.
Currently, the United States is at odds with Turkey
as the latter is preparing to launch a unilateral incursion into Iraq in pursuit
of separatist ethnic Kurds.
On Tuesday, Gates will visit the Czech Republic,
where the United States plans to build a radar station as part of its
Europe-based shield against, what Washington said, possible missile attacks from
countries such as Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The U.S. defense chief will also attend an informal
meeting of defense ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in
the Netherlands. He is expected to press NATO allies to deploy more troops in
Afghanistan.
He will conclude the tour after visiting Heidelberg,
Germany, where the U.S. military has its European headquarters.
