Erdogan Pledges Turkish Support for Establishment of Independent Palestinian State Within 1967 Borders

Erdogan pledges support for '67 state

Published yesterday (updated) 06/12/2010 20:04

ANKARA, Turkey (Ma’an) --

President Mahmoud Abbas visited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan in his Ankara home on Sunday, to discuss developments in the peace negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators.

Following the meeting, Ambassador of Palestine to Turkey Nabil Ma’roof told the official PA news agency WAFA that Erdogan pledged to support a bid for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. The official said he would speak with the leaders of all those nations with which Turkey had diplomatic relations.

Erdogan then stressed to the president that he believed a final reconciliation agreement had to be reached between rival factions Fatah and Hamas, saying "You must unite to be strong."

The Turkish leader also said he would continue to support economic development plans created as part of the Ramallah government's "two-years to statehood" initiative, by contributing $10 million to the construction of an industrial zone in the northern West Bank district of Jenin.

The leaders also agreed on a program to foster trade between the nations, which would include a preferential visa program for businessmen from Palestine.

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