Tanriverdi: If Bloodshed In Palestine Does Not Come To An End, Distressing Developments Will Occur In Whole Middle East

ANKARA - Turkey-Palestine Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Huseyin Tanriverdi has said, ''if bloodshed in Palestine does not come to an end, distressing developments will occur not only in Palestine, but in the whole Middle East.''
Holding a press conference, Tanriverdi said on Monday, ''as you know, we paid a visit to Palestine last week. During our visit, we held a meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. President Arafat described Turkey a true friend of Palestine. He said that Turkish people gave the name to the El-Aqsa Mosque, and they would protect it now.''
''What Palestinian people have been experiencing cannot be explained with words. Muslim people have been forbidden entry to the El-Aqsa Mosque,'' he said.
Recalling that they had also met with Palestinian Minister Salim Tamari, Tanriverdi quoted him as saying, ''we could not evaluate the real worth of the Ottoman Empire. We betrayed it. Now, we have been continuing to pay the price of this betrayal.''
''The bloodshed and acts of violence in Palestine should be put an end immediately. If acts of violence continue, distressing developments will occur not only in Palestine, but in the whole Middle East. Israel should give up its brutal attacks. The United Nations should fulfil its responsibilities in an effective way. It is clear that Israel was encouraged by somebody. This support to Israel should be ended. Otherwise, countries supporting Israel will also be responsible for these gory actions. Turkey should intervene by preserving its historical and cultural ties and its powerful position,'' he said.
Tanriverdi added, ''in Palestine, people are separated from each other with walls. These walls of shame constructed by Israel should be demolished.''
(UK-AÖ) 24.05.2004