Help vowed for Palestine

Sevil Küçükkoşum - ANKARA

Turkey’s strong support for the international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state was once more reaffirmed by the Turkish leader during a meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday.

Following his visit to Konya province of central Turkey, Abbas met with President Abdullah Gül yesterday. Ankara pledged to mobilize all its diplomatic efforts for the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, a Turkish official told Daily News

The two leaders exchanged views on latest developments of a reconciliation deal between Palestinian parties, the Turkish official said. Abbas informed Turkish officials on issues including formation of an interim cabinet, parliamentary and presidential elections expected to take place in May, and restructuring the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Neither Hamas nor Islamic Jihad are currently part of the PLO body, but parties have been discussing reformation of the PLO to let them join. Abbas, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Islamic Jihad head Ramadan Shallah will participate in a meeting of the PLO Commission on Dec. 22 to discuss reforming the organization.

Representatives of rival Fatah and Hamas have been having talks in Cairo since Dec. 18 to discuss implementation of a landmark reconciliation deal that was reached in May but has not yet got off the ground.