Ankara  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Ankara on Saturday declared Turkey a "friend for all times" and thanked her hosts for Turkey's military contribution to NATO's mission in Afghanistan, for economic investment in Iraq and for Ankara's role in the now stalled Israel-Syria peace process.

Speaking after wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan that covered a number issues, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, NATO and the fight against terrorism, Clinton announced that President Barack Obama would visit Turkey next month.

"I will tell President Obama that he will find a warm welcome," Clinton said at a joint press conference with Babacan.

Clinton in particular praised Turkey for its role in mediating peace talks between Israel and Syria, saying that the talks were a part of the overall Mideast peace process.

"The importance of this tract of the peace process cannot be overstated," Clinton said.

Turkey has played host to four rounds of indirect peace talks between Damascus and Tel Aviv but plans for a fifth round were put on hold when Israel launched military operations in the Gaza Strip at the end of 2008.

Babacan said that once the conditions were right and both sides were ready to again start the talks, Turkey would be ready once again to play a mediating role.

Clinton also said that two US representatives are currently holding talks in Damascus.

Asked what role Turkey might play as the US starts to pull its troops out of neighbouring Iraq, Clinton said it was too early in the planning stages to make any firm announcements but Babacan said Turkey was ready to help out in any way.

In a joint statement issued later, Clinton and Babacan expressed commitment to the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and pledged to strengthen cooperation against the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and al-Qaeda.

The United States already shares intelligence with Turkey concerning PKK separatist rebels based in mountainous northern Iraq from where they launch raids on Turkey.

Clinton's visit to Turkey and the announcement of Obama's visit is a part of the new US administration's attempt to improving ties between the two NATO allies that were hurt following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Turkish public opinion was overwhelmingly against the war and surveys showed a dramatic fall in the general public's view of the United States.

Clinton earlier on Saturday visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic and later held a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. (dpa)