Turkish Foreign Minister Mevluth Chebushulu, who is currently visiting Ramallah, stressed that his country supports the Palestinian issue and will continue to side with the Palestinians in their struggle for an independent state.
At a press conference in Ramallah with the participation of Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malaki, the Turkish minister sent a message of reassurance to the Palestinian leadership, saying that "Turkey's support for the Palestinians is a completely separate issue from relations with Israel."
He added that Turkey's policy toward the Palestinians would not change and that talks should continue to reduce tensions "and Israel's violations in the Palestinian territories. Turkey carries the flag when it comes to the Palestinian issue," he added.
The Turkish minister heads a delegation that arrived in Ramallah today.
He met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister and later will meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Nine agreements have been signed for cooperation in various areas between Ankara and Ramallah, including foreign trade, infrastructure, education and culture. "The agreements will help develop relations and strengthen.
"We talked about increasing trade and addressed the development of infrastructure in the Palestinian territories, including the industrial area in Jenin," the Turkish Foreign Minister said.
Prior to the press conference, the Turkish-Palestinian Joint Committee, composed of representatives from both sides, convened to discuss advancing measures that would establish the strengthening of relations between the two sides.
This is the second time the committee has convened.
The last time it was held in Turkey was in 2010.
Tomorrow, the Turkish minister is expected to meet with the leaders of the leadership in Israel and visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque without Israeli security.
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