ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that a solution to conflict between Israel and Palestine should not ostracize Hamas.
Erdogan met with U.S. Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell in Ankara to discuss Middle East peace process and other regional issues.
Erdogan told Mitchell that such a solution ostracizing Hamas would not be realistic, Prime Ministry sources said.
"Turkey has always pushed Hamas to contribute to peace after it won elections in Palestine and there has been significant changes in Hamas after these suggestions," Erdogan was quoted as saying by sources.
"I told Hamas to recognize 1993 Oslo peace negotiations because continuity is of vital importance in state policies. We have urged Hamas to take into account that continuity," Erdogan told Mitchell.
Erdogan also said that Turkish government was pleased with efforts exerted by the Obama administration for quest of a longlasting solution in the Middle East.
However, he said the Turkish government expected international and U.S. efforts to open border crossings to Gaza to supply humanitarian aid to 50,000 Palestinian people who are living in tents.
Erdogan and Mitchell also discussed Turkey-brokered Syria-Israel indirect peace talks.
Mitchell expressed wish for the continuation of talks between Israel and Syria, sources said.
(TÇ-CE)
(DIP)