Ankara Expects The United States To Play A More Active Role In The Middle East

ANKARA (A.A) - 02.04.2002 - Ankara wants the United States to play a more active role in the efforts to bring a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to lift the siege around Palestinian leader Arafat's headquarters.
Turkey is continuing its contacts with Arab countries, EU countries, Israel and the United States.
Reliable forces said that Turkey was not planning to send a delegation to the region to lift the Israeli siege on Palestinians since none of the observers who came to the region achieved to solve the problem.
Turkey is more inclined to send representatives to the region if some solid developments take place.
Ankara believes that without the interference of the United States, the tension in the region cannot be eased.
Considering the reactions of the Turkish people against Israeli operation against Palestinian leader Arafat, Turkey is concerned that it might be difficult to sustain good relations with both sides if the tension in the region continues.
Ankara also believes that the defence agreements previously signed with Israel had certain conditions and they should not be affected by the tension in the Middle East.
Turkey is also trying to preserve good relations with both sides and it doesn't want it relations to be negatively affected.
The investigation is continuing to find the murderers of Maj. Toytunc who was killed near Hebron and Turkey told both sides that the current situation in Palestine should not be an excuse to slow down the investigation.
CEM: UNITED STATES SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO PUT AN END TO JOINT SUICIDE PROCESS OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday, ''the United States can make a positive contribution to solution of problem in the Middle East by standing at equal distance with the sides. The United States should take action to put an end to joint suicide process of Israeli and Palestinian peoples.''
Cem informed Parliamentary General Assembly on recent developments in the Middle East.
''The Middle East is of great importance for Turkey because it takes place in our history and geography. The region has priority and importance in regard to Turkey's past and today. Problems in the region has always been among Turkey's prior foreign policy issues. Our interest in the region is so great that we sometimes lose some of our soldiers. Killing of Major Cengiz Toytunc in an armed attack in Hebron was one of examples to this. A four-member delegation was sent to the region, and everything necessary has been done to find those who are responsible for this killing. Turkey's interest in the region has increased recently. However, it became difficult to make a positive contribution to efforts to find a solution after February of 2001 and especially after the government change in Israel,'' he said.
Noting that Turkey's policy towards the Middle East was based on the ''feeling of justice'', Cem said, ''we approach the region with fair measures and with the understanding of justice. As a result of our fair approach, we can be influential. We tell what we consider true. We never change it not to distress one of the sides, and we do not change it with the concern of disappointing other countries. Turkey has gained confidence of the sides with its honesty and justice. This is a privilege owned by a few countries.''
Cem said, ''the United States has always undertaking a pioneering role in regard to the Middle East. On numerous occasions, we said that the United States's giving messages to give up this role could cause more clashes in the region. We reminded the United States about its responsibility. We underlined that the United States can make a positive contribution to solution of problem in the Middle East by standing at equal distance with the sides. We continue to defend these views today. The United States should take action to put an end to grave pains and to joint suicide process of Israeli and Palestinian peoples.''
''Latest violence, latest terror, latest terrorism and latest occupation have dragged the Middle East in the middle of a serious crisis. Our policy aims at both protecting Turkey from this crisis, and helping regional people from Arabs to Israelis to suffer less pains. We support the latest resolution approved by the United Nations Security Council. We want this resolution to be put into practice immediately,'' he stressed.
Cem said, ''Turkey has always been defending that terrorism could not have any nationality, religious belief and excuse. We harshly condemn the terrorism sustained with suicide attacks. We share pain and grief of Israeli people. Terrorism targeting innocent people cannot have any excuse. We cannot accept the treatment against Yasser Arafat, the leader of a state recognized by Turkey. We harshly condemn it. Such a disrespectful treatment against a president and the nation he represents will never result in peace, compromise and agreement.''
''A new opening should be made on the basis of international meetings and documents. A new conference should be organized with the participation of regional countries. Views defending that negotiations should start after acts of violence come to an end, are totaly wrongful. Negotiations and efforts to put an end to acts of violence should be held together,'' he added.
ECEVIT SAYS AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL CANNOT BE CANCELLED
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that agreement reached with Israel for modernization of M-60 tanks could not be cancelled.
When asked by journalists, ''the opposition wants the agreement reached with Israel for modernization of M-60 tanks to be cancelled. Is it possible?'' Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''no. The agreement has already been signed. We can review our relations with Israel, but cannot cancel the signed agreement. It is an issue left behind.''
NTV CORRESPONDENT KARABAT TAKEN OUT OF RAMALLAH
Ayse Karabat, a correspondent of private NTV channel who has covered developments in Ramallah and could not leave the city because of blockade, was taken out of Ramallah on Tuesday.
Karabat told the A.A correspondent on phone that she was taken to the Palestinian Red Crescent with a Red Cross vehicle sent to the area as a result of Turkey's initiatives.
Karabat was later taken to the border by a Red Crescent vehicle after the curfew for foreigners was lifted.
She was taken to Jerusalem by Turkish Consulate General in Jerusalem.
Karabat tried to leave Ramallah after Israel asked all foreign journalists to depart from the city. However, she failed because of the curfew.
Karabat said that Turkish Consulate General in Jerusalem and Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv were influential in her being taken out of Ramallah.
TURKS MARRIED TO PALESTINIANS REFUSE TO LEAVE RAMALLAH AND LEAVE BEHIND THEIR FAMILIES
Turkish Consulate in Jerusalem which has been working overtime since Turkish Maj. Cengiz Toytunc was killed in Hebron, has contacted eight people who are married to Palestinians so far. The Turkish Consulate is asking Turks if they need anything and if they want to leave the city or not.
So far, the Turks don't want to leave Ramallah because they don't want to leave behind their spouses or children.
There are about 600 Turks living in Ramallah in Jerusalem, Ramallah and West Bank.