ANKARA, 7 February 2007 — Pakistan’s President Pervez Gen. Musharraf said here yesterday that he won backing from Turkey for his plan to form a group of Muslim countries that will work toward peace in the Middle East.
“We believe that this is a time for a new initiative of collecting like-minded countries to contribute toward a resolution of the Palestinian dispute, to contribute toward peace in the region and bring harmony into the Muslim world,” Musharraf told a press conference here after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“There was total consonance of views” with Erdogan, he added.
Musharraf said his plan was in its initial stages and that the first step was to get together a group of Muslim countries with similar policies on regional and international issues. “The idea is to create a voice which is credible, acceptable to all and which is on a reconciliatory course (rather) than a confrontational course,” he said.
“Having got this group together, we need to decide on our stand toward a resolution of the Palestinian issue. We will then proceed to get involved into the details of how to resolve the disputes,” he added.
Once formed, the group will also contact international players in the region so that “there is acceptability of the group and its ideas,” Musharraf explained.
The Pakistani leader — who has already held talks with the leaders of Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and the United Arab Emirates on his plan — said its “physical manifestations” would be seen in the coming days.
Erdogan, for his part, called for international efforts to end sectarian violence in Iraq and Lebanon, as well as recent clashes between rival Palestinian factions and the bottleneck in Middle East peace talks.
“The recent developments are seriously threatening the security and stability of all Middle East countries. I believe regional countries have a common responsibility to install peace and calm in the Middle East,” he said.
Musharraf, who had already met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer late Monday, left Turkey later in the day.
“Turkey and Pakistan are in full agreement to act together,” Musharraf told a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart late Monday. “We are aiming to contribute to efforts to bring peace to our region, to the world and the Muslim world.”
Sezer said: “Turkey believes that risk of ethnic and sectarian clashes in the Middle East could have consequences beyond the region,” adding that “initiatives with common sense should be undertaken to strengthen a peaceful solution.”
Turkey which enjoys friendly ties both with Palestinians and Israel has long said that it was ready to help negotiate peace in the Middle East.
