German Chancellor Merkel arrives in Ankara to discuss refugee crisis

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday arrived in Ankara for talks about the Syrian crisis with Turkey's leaders.

Merkel met Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in the morning. In the afternoon, she will see President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The talks will likely focus on Turkey's contribution to limiting the number of migrants heading to Western Europe and the aid Turkey needs to do that.

In a previous meeting, Merkel and Davutoğlu agreed on lifting visa requirements for Turkish nationals visiting the Schengen area by October in return for Turkey's help in stemming the flow of refugees to Europe.

Turkey is doing its best to stem illegal migration to Europe, but will keep to its "open-door" policy for refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria, Davutoğlu said at a news conference last month in Berlin. His words followed a joint cabinet meeting between the governments of Germany and Turkey.

Germany and Turkey have emerged as crucial players in the biggest migration crisis to rock Europe since World War II. The outcome of Friday's talks is not only important for Merkel, who faces intense pressure at home to impose a cap on Germany's refugee intake, but will also have resonance across Europe, where public opinion is hardening against a record influx of refugees seeking asylum.

On Monday, Merkel also visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. She wrote in the Anıtkabir memorial notebook: "Within the special kindred spirit between Turkish and German people, my best regards to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic and the architect of the road to Europe."