Turkish president cancels Sweden visit
Turkish President Abdullah Gül has cancelled a planned visit to Sweden on health grounds following his hospitalization for an ear infection, Sweden said on Tuesday.
"The state visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gül... which was due to take place in Sweden from September 10 to 12, was cancelled because of the president's health problems," the Swedish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Discussions were under way to set a new date for the visit, a spokesman told AFP.
Gül was hospitalized with an ear infection on Friday, the day after he cut short a trip to Kyrgyzstan for health reasons.
Gül has previously been treated for the same condition and had to cut short or postpone foreign trips because flying can cause problems for weak eardrums.
The Turkish president was to be accompanied on his visit to Sweden by Prime Minister Ali Babacan and Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis, as well as by a number of members of parliament and other officials.
In addition, more than 100 Turkish entrepreneurs were scheduled to take part in the visit in seminars aimed at fostering ties with the Swedish business community.
Gül's itinerary was to include talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt as well as a visit to Uppsala University.
AFP/The Local
Comments
See Also
"The state visit of Turkish President Abdullah Gül... which was due to take place in Sweden from September 10 to 12, was cancelled because of the president's health problems," the Swedish foreign ministry said in a statement.
Discussions were under way to set a new date for the visit, a spokesman told AFP.
Gül was hospitalized with an ear infection on Friday, the day after he cut short a trip to Kyrgyzstan for health reasons.
Gül has previously been treated for the same condition and had to cut short or postpone foreign trips because flying can cause problems for weak eardrums.
The Turkish president was to be accompanied on his visit to Sweden by Prime Minister Ali Babacan and Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis, as well as by a number of members of parliament and other officials.
In addition, more than 100 Turkish entrepreneurs were scheduled to take part in the visit in seminars aimed at fostering ties with the Swedish business community.
Gül's itinerary was to include talks with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt as well as a visit to Uppsala University.
AFP/The Local
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.