RAMALLAH, 2 May 2005 — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has offered to mediate for peace in the Middle East during his first official visit to Israel yesterday. The Turkish premier, who triggered a diplomatic crisis last year by accusing Israel of engaging in “state terrorism”, said the two countries needed to show a united front in the global war on terror by attacking its root causes.
Following talks late yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Erdogan and Sharon expressed confidence that the visit would help move the Middle East peace process forward. “I came here to contribute to the peace process in the Middle East,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference with Sharon.
“I believe this visit will certainly help the creation of a positive atmosphere in the Middle East and will allow the advance of political processes and, with God’s help, we will reach peace,” said Sharon. Sharon said he believed Turkey could play a role in helping the Palestinians economically following Israel’s withdrawal of all troops and Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip this summer.
“Turkey has the capacity to help the Palestinians after the redeployment in the economic field,” he said, suggesting that Ankara could contribute by building power stations, desalination plants and high-rise buildings to house refugees in the territory.
The two also announced they would set up a direct telephone hotline between their offices.
Similar hotlines already exist between Sharon’s office and the White House, as well as with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leadership of the European Union.
Erdogan’s two-day visit will also see him meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah where he is expected to push Ankara’s credentials as a mediator given its warm relations with both sides.
“I will tell my interlocutors again that, should the parties request, Turkey is ready to help, be it mediation or hosting conferences,” Erdogan told reporters before leaving Ankara, saying he would discuss “concrete steps that can be taken to preserve the current atmosphere of calm and to revitalize the peace process.” On meeting Abbas, Erdogan is expected to offer Turkish aid to the Palestinians and possible assistance in the revitalization of Gaza after Israel withdraws.
Meanwhile, outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn, appointed last month as the international community’s envoy to assist the pullout, held his first talks yesterday with the Palestinian leadership. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said the talks had focused on the economic challenges after the withdrawal, particularly housing.
— With input from agencies
