The Turkish leader, Abdullah Gül received a warm welcome at the Nsimalen International airport yesterday.

Abouquet of flower, military honours, the singing of the national anthems of Turkey and Cameroon and handshake with over one hundred personalities was the major highlights of the airport ceremony in honour of President Abdullah Gül yesterday at the Nsimalen International airport in Yaounde. The Turkish President's aeroplane touched-down at 1:05p.m simultaneously as President Paul Biya arrived at the airport.

After the singing of the national anthems of Turkey and Cameroon, President Paul Biya and his august guest inspected the guard of honour under the command of Col Felix Nji, before taking time to greet the members of government and the diplomats who turned out in their numbers to welcome the Turkish leader who is making his first trip to Cameroon.

After the warm accolades at the foot of the plane with President Paul Biya, young Larisa Ntsama handed a bouquet of flowers to the visiting Turkish Head of State while wishing him a warm welcome to Cameroon. There was also the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, the President of the Economic and Social Council as well as the Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic and the Director of the Civil Cabinet. The stopover at the Presidential lounge took less than 10 minutes and both leaders entered the same limousine as an official convoy led them out of Nsimalen to the Yaounde Hilton Hotel where President Abdullah Gül is lodged. Both leaders last met on september 24, 2008 in New York at the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly.

A delegation of Turkish people in Cameroon waved their country's flag at the airport which attracted the two leaders to greet them after the constituted corps. Also, jubilant group of militants of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) were present as early as 10a.m. to sing and dance in honour of the Turkish President.

Elected 11th President of the Republic of Turkey on August 28, 2007, Abdullah Gül is in Cameroon to foster economic and political ties between his country and Cameroon. The visit is also coming at a time Turkey has constructed an imposing embassy in Cameroon with Ambassador Atilay Ersan as the first resident diplomat from Turkey to Cameroon. Until now, Turkish Ambassadors to Cameroon were resident in Abuja, Nigeria.

The business delegation of over 120 persons that is accompanying President Gül is an indication of the economic nature of the visit which will be marked by a Turkey-Cameroon Business Forum. The visit ends today.