Cem: We Don't Accept The Attitude Of Israeli Government Against Arafat

ANKARA (A.A) - 01.04.2002 - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Monday that Turkey harshly condemned the attitude of Israel toward Palestinian Head of State Yasser Arafat.
Cem, who issued a written statement regarding the developments in Ramallah, pointed out that, ''Yasser Arafat is the head of a state which Turkey official recognizes. We don't accept the attitude of Israel against him, and we harshly condemn this attitude.''
The written statement said, ''nobody has the right to make this disrespectfulness to the head of a state and the nation he represents. Such and similar acts prepare a basis for the Palestinian people, most of whom believed in peace, to be influenced by extreme circles. It is not realistic to expect an administration, who was despised, occupied, and whose mechanisms and police dispersed, and whose leader was isolated to control the terrorist elements.''
THE TREATMENT WHICH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WAS EXPOSED TO AS A WHOLE IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Cem described the treatment which the Palestinian people was exposed to as a whole, as a violation of human rights and harshly condemned this attitude. Cem also urged Palestine to do its best to prevent terrorist activities.
Cem pointed out that Turkey carefully followed the incidents occuring in Palestine and the developments in the Middle East, and announced Turkey's evaluations pertaining to the issue in a written statement.
Urging the sides to implement immediately the resolution of the United Nations Security Council which called them to a meaningful ceasefire and Israeli units to withdraw from the Palestinian cities including Ramallah, Cem said, ''we define the treatment which the Palestinian people were exposed to as a whole, was an outdated attitude and a violation of human rights.''
Foreign Minister Cem said Turkey harshly condemned the terrorism carried out with suicide attacks, noting that it also shared the grieves of Israeli people. ''Terrorism targeting innocent people can in no way have pretext under any condition. Palestine should exert efforts to prevent terrorist activities,'' he said.
Stressing that Yasser Arafat was the Head of a State which Turkey officially recognized, Cem said, ''we don't accept the attitude of the Israeli government against Arafat and we harshly condemn this attitude. Nobody has the right to make this disrespectfulness to the head of a state and the nation he represents. Such and similar acts prepare a basis for the Palestinian people, most of whom believed in peace, to be influenced by extreme circles. It is not realistic to expect an administration, who was despised, occupied, and whose mechanisms and police dispersed, and whose leader was isolated to control the terrorist elements.''
Cem said escalation of violence in the region dragged the whole Middle East and Gulf geography to a very big crisis, and led to the splitting up of internal and external stability.
Pointing out that the United States has responsibility in the Middle East issue, Cem said, ''the United States earlier undertook leading roles in all previous peace initiatives and arrangements. The United States should not halt this role. It should stay at an equal distance to both sides, and use its effectiveness to put an end to the occupation and terrorism, and to find a way of solution for peace.''
Ismail Cem said that Turkey had always fulfilled the function of reconciling the sides for the solution of the Middle East problem, adding that Turkey was always in contact with the sides and the concerned foreign ministries in the recent tense period and it conveyed its views and suggestions to the governments.
''Turkey determined the necessity of a new beginning,'' said Cem and noted that a concrete solution project has to be put forward in order to end the invasion, violence and terrorism in the Middle East.
Cem said that Turkey proposed the sides to come together as soon as possible and to take a new step on the basis of Madrid and Oslo agreements which are the main agreements of the Middle East Peace Process and by taking into consideration the Saudi plan which was adopted by the Arab League.
''Our embassies bring our views to the attention of the concerned capitals. Each day which is lost, each moment which is spent in vain means an additional contribution to the escalation of violence and terrorism. Turkey ensured peace and tolerance in this problematic region of the world and co-existence of three big religions and different nations for four hundred years. Turkey has traditionally good relations with both Israel and Palestine. Turkey will continue to fulfil its historical and modern responsibility,'' he said.