The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has paid a private visit to Istanbul before taking part on Monday 13 November in a bilateral meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and attending an Alliance of Civilizations event.

Prime Minister Zapatero and his wife Sonsoles Espinosa visited the city's most special buildings like the Blue Mosque, St Sofia and the Topkapi Palace. Dr.Zeynel Abidin Erdem and his wife, joined Spanish Prime Minister during his program in Istanbul.

PM Zapatero praises Turkish economy, talks of future trade
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in Turkey for official meetings with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has commented on Spanish committment to economic involvement with Turkey, saying "Turkey is one of 9 countries involved in our market project for 2007. For us, Turkey is on the same economic level as the US, China, and Japan." Zapatero called Turkey a "strategic market" for Spain, and noted that his country pledged its "eternal support" for Turkey's quest for full EU membership.

Zapatero noted in a speech to the Turkish-Spanish Trade Council yesterday morning that "There has been an incredible rise in the level of trade between Turkey and Spain in past years," and commented on Turkey's success at leaving economic difficulties in the past, and showing its full capacity. Zapatero also recalled that Turkey was ranked 9th in terms of countries exporting to Spain last year, and that there had been a 5.5 billion dollar volume of trade between the two countries in 2005.