Ankara: US Deputy Secretary of State Michael Regas will embark on a tour of Turkey, Iraq, and Israel from tomorrow until the 5th of next month. The US State Department stated in a press release that the Deputy Secretary will hold talks with his Turkish counterparts aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. He will also meet with the Patriarch of Fener of the Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul, Bartholomew.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Regas will then travel to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to hold talks with Iraqi officials, visit US diplomatic facilities there, and inaugurate the US Consulate in Erbil, in the north of the country. Regas is also scheduled to meet with Israeli officials during his visit to Tel Aviv.