24.02.13: At the start of her two-day visit to Turkey the Chancellor visited the Gazi Barracks in Kahramanmaras, where she was welcomed by the Turkish commanding officer, Colonel Kazaz.
German Patriot Systems were transported to Kahramanmaras in December 2012. The Chancellor visited the Patriot Systems with the Turkish Defence Minister Yilmaz and Colonel Ellermann.
The Patriot defence systems are to protect Turkey against any Syrian missile attacks.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Turkish Defence Minister visit a Patriot System.
German troops are in Turkey as part of a NATO missile defence mission. The aim is to protect Turkish citizens and Turkish territory. Turkey is an ally and a fellow member of NATO.
About 320 German soldiers are currently stationed in Kahramanmaras. The Chancellor thanked them all.
At the same time Angela Merkel stressed that a political solution is needed to the conflict in Syria.
On the second day of her visit the Chancellor visited the Church of St. John the Baptist in Göreme National Park in the region of Cappadocia
A Bundeswehr Airbus was waiting to take the Chancellor from Nevesehir Airport to Ankara, the capital of Turkey.
A visit to Anıtkabir Atatürk Memorial was the next point on the Chancellor's itinerary.
Anıtkabir houses the memorial to Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish state. Angela Merkel laid a wreath at his tomb.
The Chancellor leaves the Atatürk Mausoleum with an officer of the guard of honour.
It was the Chancellor's third official visit to Turkey.
Following her visit to the Atatürk Memorial, the Chancellor met Turkish President Abdullah Gül.
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Chancellor Angela Merkel with military honours.
On the agenda were international issues including Syria, Mali and Iran's nuclear programme, but also the resumption of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU.
At the press conference with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chancellor Angela Merkel advocated the continuation of Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU.
The Chancellor then attended a German-Turkish Business Forum in Ankara along with Turkish Economics Minister Safer Caglayan.
In the evening Angela Merkel met representatives of Turkish religious communities.