ANKARA - Huseyin Tanriverdi, the Chairman of Turkish-Palestinian Interparliamentary Friendship Group, said on Wednesday that they would visit Palestine in April upon the invitation of Palestinian Head of State Yasser Arafat.
Speaking at a news conference in the Parliament, Tanriverdi said Palestinian Ambassador in Ankara Fouad Yaseen invited them to Palestine on behalf of Arafat. He said they decided to pay the visit in the second half of April taking into consideration the elections that would take place on March 28.
Tanriverdi said Israeli-Palestinian dispute, which continued for more than a century, reached an insoluble point today, and stressed that bloodshed could not be stopped in the Middle East which was known as the oldest settlement region of the world.
Tanriverdi said, ''Israel's attitude in keeping on pushing Palestinian reality and a peaceful future is not right. A strong seed of hatred is being sown in the Middle East instead of peace. Both Palestine and Israel should walk on the Road Map and start talks soon for peace.''
Tanriverdi said Turkey which is an element of power and balance in the region should play an active role in peace process.
Tanriverdi said, ''as the Interparliamentary Friendship Group, we are ready to fulfill all our obligations.''
Tanriverdi said, ''we call on the sides to put an end to violence policies, and to start talks to prevent killing of people and to stop children and women from being a target to the bombs.''
(AY-AÖ) 18.02.2004