ANNAPOLIS - Turkish Foreign Minister & Chief Negotiator for the EU talks Ali Babacan on Tuesday expressed cautious optimism about the decision and statements to resume Middle East peace process.
Babacan attended International Middle East Peace Conference that started in Annapolis, U.S.
Speaking to Turkish reporters, Babacan said, "Israeli and Palestinian parties agreed on some points and decided to resume a new process." He said it was pleasing that international community supported this decision and a mechanism has been established to progress this process.
"Thus the negotiation process will be monitored closely in implementation stage. Separately, a decision has been made to establish a steering committee. Palestinian and Israeli leaders will meet once in two weeks. End of 2008 was determined a target," Babacan said.
Babacan said Turkey would continue to assume an influential role in establishment of peace and stability in the region.
Responding to a question that Iran and Hamas would not be warm towards this process, Babacan said, "all related parties should refrain from violence. It is not possible to obtain a result with violence and extremism. Many countries and international organizations attended this conference and this has proved that international community supports this process. Turkey has four main principles as regards to the Middle East. They are; political dialogue in resolution of problems, security for everybody, economic relations and preservation of multi-cultural structure of the region."
Turkish FM underscored the importance of Turkey's role in the process and recalled that Israeli and Palestinian leaders had addressed at a historical session in the Turkish Parliament.
Pointing to the declaration on establishment of an industry zone from which Israel and Palestine could make use of, Babacan also said establishment of a university where both Israelis and Palestinian could go together was another interesting project in Annapolis.
Babacan said Turkey's Bilkent University talked to them on the matter about year ago, stating that this university would include a hospital and faculty of medicine. He said the school would be on Israeli territories but somewhere near the border.