ISTANBUL - Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay has said, ''Turkey has been supporting initiative of the United Nations about Palestine.''
Atalay left for the United States on Tuesday to represent Turkey at a meeting to be held between United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ministers' delegation tomorrow to revive the road map process between Israel and Palestine.
Holding a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure, Atalay said, ''as you know, a Palestine declaration was released at the end of the meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Malaysia on April 22. In line with the declaration, a delegation of ministers was formed by Turkey, Malaysia, Morocco, Senegal, Palestine and the OIC Secretary General to hold meetings with the United States, Russia, the United States and current term president of the European Union (EU) about Israeli-Palestinian dispute.''
''The delegation held its first meetings in Ireland and Russia. Now, we will meet with United Nations Secretary General Annan,'' he said.
Atalay recalled that the road map envisaged withdrawal of Israel from the occupied territories, foundation of independent Palestinian state on those territories and efforts to provide Palestinian state with socio-economic support.
Atalay is expected to return to Turkey on June 6.
(UK-AÖ) 01.06.2004