Hillary Rodham Clinton eased into a low-key day of courtesy calls with Turkish leaders Tuesday following a hectic trip to Bosnia.
"I don't think we'll discuss politics today," said Nazmiye Demirel, wife of President Suleyman Demirel. Hillary Clinton nodded her head in agreement.The first lady opened her three-day trip to Turkey with a meeting with the Turkish first lady at the Presidential Palace.
Afterwards she had lunch with the president, promising to return to Turkey with her husband, President Clinton.
"The U.S. and Turkey are partners, friends and allies," Hillary Clinton said in a luncheon toast to the Turkish president. "We have stood side by side through many world crises."
Demirel meets with President Clinton on Friday in Washington to discuss a broad-range of issues including U.S. concerns about human rights abuses in Turkey.
Hillary Clinton avoided substantive discussions in her meetings with the president and the prime minister, Mesut Yilmaz. Hillary Clinton said the meeting between her husband and Demirel will allow them "to build on our strong friendship."
The first lady hopes to use this visit to promote her long campaign for the rights of women and children.
She will address that theme on Wednesday during a major speech in Istanbul.
Demirel praised Hillary Clinton for her efforts. "The Turkish people recognize you, Mrs. Clinton, as a distinguished defender of human rights and a strong supporter of justice and welfare in your country and throughout the world," he said.
Hillary Clinton arrived in Ankara late Monday after a grueling visit to U.S. troops in Bosnia earlier in the day. Still tired from the Bosnia events, she had a light schedule Tuesday.