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Date Posted: 12:58:26 02/06/09 Fri
Author: pastor lewis
Subject: US alone can’t solve Mideast tangle’

US alone can’t solve Mideast tangle’
Ghazanfar Ali Khan | Arab News



Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed receives Turkish President Abdullah Gul and his wife Hayrunnisa at the Jeddah airport on Thursday. (SPA)

RIYADH: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Arab and Muslim countries should not depend on the United States alone for peace in the Middle East. He stressed that Ankara would continue its efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying it would be its greatest contribution to world peace.

“The bloodbath in the Palestinian territories must stop and Palestinian ranks should be united. It is the duty of everybody. We should not leave the solution in the hands of the new American administration alone but help it to establish peace in the region,” the president said while speaking to reporters in Riyadh.

He said Turkey, both as member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and NATO, would continue to play the role of a possible bridge between the Muslim world and the West.

“Turkey has been in a pivotal geopolitical position and recent months have only highlighted the unique nature of Turkey’s dual role,” said Gul, when asked whether his country’s bid for EU membership would be hampered because of its intense involvement in the affairs of the Middle East and Islamic world in general.

Answering a question on the effect of the Gaza onslaught on Turkish-Israeli relations, Gul said: “Our relations with Israel must be utilized for stability in the region. Had it not been the Gaza blitzkrieg we could have made a major breakthrough in Syrian-Israeli peace negotiations.”

Gul, who arrived in Jeddah later as part of his four-day official visit, said the Palestinian issue was at the core of his meetings with Saudi officials. Overcoming the division and establishing national unity in Palestine would be given top priority, he said while expressing Turkey’s full support for the Arab peace initiative, which was originally proposed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

“We hope Israel would also consider this initiative for lasting peace,” he added.

The Arab peace initiative calls for Israel’s return to the 1967 borders, a “just solution” to the problem of Palestinian refugees and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In return Arab states would consider the conflict over and normalize relations with Israel.

Gul said he appreciated King Abdullah’s efforts to reconcile Palestinian rivals Fatah and Hamas by hosting a meeting in Makkah in 2007.

He hoped that two Palestinian groups could restart negotiations to form a national unity government. He called on all related parties to take action to revive the Arab plan.

Gul, who will be meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ankara early next week, said that Turkey would support every country, every faction and every individual who seeks peace.

Arab News asked him whether Turkey’s comments in support of Hamas would jeopardize the country’s EU membership bid.

“Turkey’s relations with the EU is a different subject,” he said, pointing out that negotiations with the EU continue.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a reception hosted by Turkish Ambassador Naci Koru at the Turkish Embassy on Wednesday night. The reception followed a lavish dinner attended by about 200 members of the Turkish community, Saudi officials and guests, including Gul’s wife Hayrunnisa. Both Gul and his wife cut a cake while the president received several plaques and trophies, including a plaque from Yuksel Insat Company. Yuksel, which has a massive presence in Saudi Arabia, is currently building three dams in the Kingdom.

“Turkey supports the entire Palestinian nation and does not specifically support one group over the other,” said the Turkish leader.

Gul, who became the first-ever foreign Muslim leader to address the Saudi Shoura Council, said Wednesday that relations with Saudi Arabia had been very cordial and were improving in all areas. In the interview, Gul said: “The growing cooperation between the two leading countries of the Muslim world — Saudi Arabia and Turkey — would contribute to regional peace.”

He said that the two countries signed several agreements, including the avoidance of double taxation, maritime transport and culture.

He reaffirmed Turkey’s desire to increase the volume of investment in the Kingdom, a country that is least affected by the global financial crisis.

Gul’s entourage included Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Minister of Transport Binali Yildirim, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Mehdi Eker and State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursat Tuzmen.

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