RAMALLAH (AA) - Turkish Foreign Minister Aptullah Gul addressed the Palestinian Legislative Council on Wednesday as the first foreign minister ever making a speech at this Council.
     In his address Gul said, ''I hope to see a Palestine, where peace prevails, as soon as possible, and I would like to extend my support to the just cause of the Palestinians on behalf of myself and Turkish people.''
     Stressing that Turkish and Palestinian peoples shared a common history, Gul said that Turkey attached great importance to the enhancement of relations and cooperation between those two peoples.
     Gul said, ''Turkish people shares agonies of their Palestinian brothers. Turkey, a reliable friend of Palestine, has always extended strong support to just and legitimate cause of the Palestinian people, aiming to live under the umbrella of an independent and sovereign state.''
     ''Israeli government's one-sided plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and the north of West Bank could constitute an opportunity for the resumption of a new peace process only if it (this plan) was implemented as a part of the road map and in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority'', Gul noted.
     Gul stated that ''Turkey always encouraged the return of the parties to the negotiation table, with a will to reach a comprehensive agreement that would make possible the co-existence of Palestine and Israel within mutually recognized borders, as the only way out''.
     ''Turkey would continue to contribute to a just and lasting solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict'', Gul stressed.
     Noting that the future of Israeli and Palestinian people were interconnected, Gul said that ''a better future in the region could be built by common sense and compromise and not by walls or physical obstacles''.
     Gul said that ''the only way to enable the two parties to look at the future with confidence was to sign a sustainable peace agreement'', and noted that ''the ground laid by the road map should be well-assessed in this context''.
     ''It was obvious that pressure and sieges against the Palestinian people had not brought security and tranquility to Israel'', Gul stated.
     Gul said, ''it should be understood that the path going to security in the Middle East passes through peace. Violence, use of extreme force and terrorism only serve to the interests of the enemies of the peace. Therefore, I believe that not only Palestinian Authority but also the Israeli government should assume their historic responsibilities to put an end to this hostile atmosphere and find a just solution as soon as possible.''
     FM Gul also expressed his view that efforts of the Palestinian Authority to fulfil its responsibilities regarding security had particular importance for regional peace. Gul also said that ''Turkey appreciated political, socio-economic and security reforms of the Palestinian leadership''.
     He stated that ''Turkey planned to open an office of Turkish Cooperation & Development Agency in Jerusalem or Ramallah in order to extend assistance to Palestine, and implement new projects''. He added that ''a technical team headed by Turkey's Coordinator for Palestine Vehbi Dincerler would visit Palestine between January 31st and February 6th, 2005 to list possible projects that could be launched''.
     After his speech, Gul met Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Kurey and then signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation between Turkey and Palestine with his Palestinian counterpart Nebil Shaat.
     (BRC-ULG)
2005-01-05