ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said, ''we have launched a new initiative under an action plan prepared as a result of efforts to ease difficult living conditions of Palestinian people.''
Gul received on Wednesday Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hicarciklioglu and Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Chairman Ahmed Hashim Zugyar.
Speaking at the joint press conference held after the meeting, Gul said, ''under this initiative we have launched as a result of long-standing works, Turkey's humanitarian, medical, social, economic, technical and cultural aid to Palestine will be diversified. We will expend efforts to make this aid systematic, productive and influential. We have also invited non-governmental organizations to mobilize themselves for this purpose.''
Stressing that they would further improve and strengthen economic and commercial relations with Palestine, Gul told reporters that they would encourage Turkish and Palestinian businessmen, industrialists and farmers to this end.
''We listened to views and proposals of relevant public institutions, foreign representations and private sector as we prepared the action plan. The plan includes many elements from health relief to encouragement of exports, from providing Palestinian people with vocational and technical training to formation of a business council, exchange of commercial information, co-operation among small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) and preparation of a legal structure for investments,'' he said.
Gul noted that the government had decided to make a contribution of 100 thousand U.S. dollars to the Palestinian Fund formed with the aims of employment and social protection under the technical co-operation working programs of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Underlining that Turkey would maintain its support and aid to Palestine henceforth, Gul said, ''Turkish Eximbank has allocated a loan of 50 million U.S. dollars for the projects of the Palestinian national administration. I hope that Palestine would use this loan in the most beneficial way.''
Gul said that the government had been preparing some new political ideas, proposals and missions in an effort to make a contribution to implementation of the road map.
''Turkey has been expending all kinds of efforts to settle peace in the region by benefiting from its special friendly relations both with Israel and Palestine and from its historical role in the Middle East. We hope that our efforts will contribute to implementation of the road map, Israeli-Palestinian peace process and efforts of settlement of peace and prosperity in the Middle East,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Zugyar said in his part that they wanted to further strengthen historical relations with Turkey and set up more co-operation.
Noting that Turkey had always supported Palestine, Zugyar said, ''there have been good commercial relations between Turkey and Palestine. There has been a great demand in Turkish products in Palestine.''
Pointing out that they had been living through a difficult period, Zugyar said, ''although an agreement was reached between Palestine and Israel, this country has been continuing to oppress Palestine in front of the whole world. However, despite all these, life is going on, and human rights will win one day.''
Stressing that they had been trying to do their utmost to provide Palestinian people with stability and freedom, Zugyar highlighted importance of improvement of living conditions of the people.
(UK-AÖ) 24.12.2003