Islamic states welcome Turkey-brokered peace talks

"The Middle East peace process has two basic pillars, Israel-Palestine and Israel-Syria. Developments about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, unfortunately, are not as satisfactory as they should be." Babacan told reporters after the 35th session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers meeting in Uganda's capital Kampala. �

Babacan said that the second round of Israeli-Syrian talks with Turkey's mediation was completed successfully last week, and dates of third and fourth round of talks were set, and added that many countries, including Turkey, were uneasy about the recent developments. �

He also said 55 of 57 countries have extended their support to Turkey so far, regarding the country’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council.

He said that the agenda of the meeting was very full, and especially the Cyprus problem and issues concerning the Turkish minority in Western Thrace were high on the agenda.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said on Wednesday that Arab countries received "very positively" Turkey's mediation in the Israeli-Syrian peace talks, expressing hope that the talks would yield a favorable result.

Ihsanoglu told the Anatolian Agency that Muslim countries also extended full support for Turkey's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council.

He said foreign ministers' meeting would address issues such as Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Cyprus as well as the energy crisis, human rights and economic development in the three-day meeting.

Photo: AA