Tuesday, 30 December 2008
While the attacks were continuing in Gaza, Turkish capital city Ankara, witnessed diplomatic negotiations between Egypt and Turkey. The Foreign Minister of Egypt, Ahmad Abu al Gheit, met respectively with his Turkish counterpart, Ali Babacan, President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Monday. Their agenda was the last attacks in Gaza Strip and they called for an urgent ceasefire.
A joint press conference was held following the Babacan-Gheit’s closed meeting. Babacan called Israel to end the attacks in the region and he said that the attacks aroused indignation among people of the region and tension must be reduced. He said that Turkey is supporting the United Nations Security Council’s resolution taken two days ago on Gaza Strip. He urged Hamas to end attacks against Israel and refrain from retaliation. He also said Turkey urges Israel to allow humanitarian aid transfer to Gaza.
Babacan said that Turkey officially put an end to the efforts to mediate indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel. Turkish Foreign Minister told that under these conditions the continuation of the talks is naturally impossible.
Following the Israeli attacks, Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, described the attacks, which came shortly after Olmert’s visit to Turkey to discuss on Middle East peace, as a crime against humanity. Today, Erdogan called international community not to be silent against the attacks in Gaza.
Gheit told at the press conference that "Unfortunately, the situation in the region is very dangerous. As Egypt, we condemn the attacks and oppose it with all our will…We see the solution in an immediate ceasefire. The armed operations should be ended by both parties".
“Egypt has successively provided tranquility between Israel and Palestine for six months; yet, the conflicts started again after the end of ceasefire.” Gheit said. He also said the borders between Gaza and Israel must be opened and Israel must stop the killing operations. Gheit also emphasized that the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was opened to dispatch humanitarian supplies and receive wounded Palestinians.
Nasrallah had called Egyptians to make demonstrations to force their government to open the crossing. In his statement, Gheit also criticized Nasrallah for his call for Egyptians to take the streets. And he claimed that Nasrallah wants to create an anarchic atmosphere similar to which his country experienced two years ago.
As an answer to question of “How should Cairo and Ankara cooperate to pressureIsrael?” Gheit said that “Both countries are the powerful countries of the region. At the same time, they have a power to change international perception on the issue. We believe in that Turkey and Egypt may play an important role.”
After Egyptian Foreign Minister’s short meeting with Abdullah Gul, Turkish President said that a humanitarian assistance must be started in the region immediately.
Serpil Acikalin (JTW)
