Turkey, Palestine talk national reconciliation

ANKARA / KONYA

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas (R) prepares to hug Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoğlu. AA photo

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has conducted talks with Turkey on a national reconciliation process in his territory amid plans by Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh’s to also visit Turkey in the near future. 

“We have come a long way in national reconciliation,” Abbas said in a joint press statement after meeting with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in the Central Anatolian province of Konya. 

Turkey’s support for the recognition of a Palestinian state was affirmed during the meeting while officials also exchanged views on the national reconciliation efforts and recent developments in the Middle East peace process, according to reports.

Abbas will meet Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu today before convening with President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tomorrow. 
Meanwhile, Haniyeh’s political adviser, Yusef Rizka, said the Gaza leader would travel in the near future to Turkey, Bahrain, Qatar and Tunisia. 

The four nations all invited Haniyeh to visit, he said.