ANKARA: The leaders of Turkey and Egypt discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iraq on Thursday, warning that persisting bloodshed is increasing despair among people in the Middle East.
We agree on the necessity to revive the peace process that will lead to an independent Palestinian state. The same efforts are needed to ensure Iraq s stability, national reconciliation and territorial integrity, President Hosni Mubarak said after talks with Turkish counterpart Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
We should avoid creating further sources of problems in the region, he said. Sezer stressed that the worsening problems in the Middle East are fuelling pessimism among the people and called on the international community to step up efforts to help the settlement of problems.
Turkey and Egypt … have important duties in this respect, he said.
Mainly Muslim secular Turkey is Israel s main regional ally but also enjoys warm relations with the Palestinians and supports their claims for statehood.
Even though its close ties with Israel have often irked Arab countries, Ankara believes it is in a good position to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Mubarak and Sezer also discussed bilateral ties and underlined their determination to boost economic cooperation.
Mubarak was scheduled to meet also with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit before wrapping up his two-day visit on Friday.
