ANKARA Ñ Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon plans to further improve strategic relations with Turkey.

Sharon arrived in Ankara on Wednesday in the highest-level visit between the two countries this year. The prime minister's brief visit came after visits by the country's defense minister, foreign minister and chief of staff.

Officials said that during his one-day visit Sharon is expected to discuss ways to improve strategic relations with Ankara. This includes defense, trade and political ties. A leading subject, they said, would be Turkey's offer to sell water to Israel.

After his election in February, the officials said, Sharon relayed a message to the Turkish leadership that he will upgrade relations with Ankara. Under 20-month tenure of Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Israeli-Turkish relations were muted.

Last month, Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer discussed new military projects with Ankara. This included the launch of missile defense cooperation that would include the United States. The missile shield would help protect Israel and Turkey from Iran's Shihab-3 missile.

Ben-Eliezer also discussed Israeli proposals to upgrade Turkey's M-60 tank, and provide Ankara's military with UAVs, military spy satellite, anti-tank missiles and attack helicopters.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz continued such talks during his visit at the end of July. Mofaz was said to have pledged to advance missile defense cooperation with Ankara and Washington.

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