TEL AVIV (AA) - Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres extended full support to Turkey's EU membership and stressed that Turkey should join the EU.
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader and Vice President of Socialist International (SI) Deniz Baykal who is currently in Israel, met Peres the same day.
Peres and Baykal took up various issues including Turkey's EU bid and Israeli-Palestinian peace process in their meeting. Peres underlined the importance of Turkey's full membership to EU and said he was ready to get in contact with the European leaders to explain the importance of Turkey's EU bid.
Baykal explained his concerns about the possible negative impact of the latest political developments in France and Germany on Turkey's EU bid. ''We are concerned about the defeat of German Social Democrat parties in elections,'' Baykal said.
Peres also said that Israel attributed importance to Turkey's being a democratic, secular and modern country.
Referring to Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Peres said in the meeting that he extended full support to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza strip. Peres later informed Baykal about some projects which would physically unite Palestinians living separately in Gaza Strip and West Bank.
When Peres indicated that Turkey could also have contributions to Palestinian issue, Baykal said that Turkey could help in construction and tourism sectors.
Peres and Baykal also took up the project of Turkey's exporting water to Israel.
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2005-05-23