Foreign Minister Babacan Leaves For Egypt To Attend Palestine Donors' Conference
ANKARA - Turkey`s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan left for Sharm El Seikh Sunday to attend the donors` conference officially titled as "Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza".
Babacan told reporters at the Esenboga International Airport before his departure that the conference bore great importance as with it the international community was taking responsibility to heal the wounds caused by the tragedy that took place in the Gaza strip.
"At this point, it is very crucial to start exerting efforts at once for reconstructing Gaza and bringing the life there back to normal. We hope this conference will be useful in accelerating those efforts," said Babacan.
He referred to the talks which started last week in Cairo aiming at bringing different groups in Gaza together and settling the differences between them, also expressing his hope that these efforts would bear results shortly.
Babacan said they did not believe that a solution to the Palestine issue would be found unless Palestinians established unity and solidarity amongst themselves. Parties should at least come together on common ground to set up a transitory structure until the general and presidential elections, said Babacan.
Babacan said all parties inside and outside Palestine should respect the outcome of those elections, adding that Palestine`s right to self determination ought to be acknowledged by all. He said Turkey would continue to support efforts to this end.
Referring to the Donors Conference for Palestine held in Paris in 2007 where Turkey committed to donating 150 million USD to Palestine, Babacan said Turkey was ready to donate an additional sum for the reconstruction of Gaza and humanitarian purposes, adding that he would announce it Monday during the conference.
Babacan said the mechanisms which would use this financial aid were very important. He said that without an agreement among Palestinians, the financial aid could not be utilised.
"Whenever conditions become ripe, whenever those mechanisms are formed to implement concrete projects, then we will release the sum I will announce tomorrow," said Babacan.
Members of the Quartet for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton, Russia`s Foreign Minister Lavrov, EU High Representative Javier Solana and Czech Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg; and representatives of all international donors to the Palestinians will attend the conference which will be co-chaired by Egypt and Norway.
Humanitarian aid and early recovery of the Gaza Strip, as well as ways to help develop the Palestinian economy, will be discussed during the conference which will be held on March 2.
(OZG-AÖ)
(DIP)
