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Middle East Peace Process
Surrounded by three seas and bridging Europe and Asia,
Turkey occupies a unique and strategically important location.
Turkey's accentuated geo-strategic importance today stems
from its centrality to the regions of major instability
and conflagration as well as of important economic and energy
potentials. By virtue of this geo-strategic setting, Turkey
belongs to the Middle East regions as well.
 Turkey
enjoys deep rooted historical, cultural and traditional
ties with the Middle East and promotes cordial relations
with all the countries and peoples of the region. Developments
in the Middle East are followed closely by and felt strongly
in Turkey. Hence, Turkey has always desired to see a just,
lasting and comprehensive peace take root in this conflict-ridden
region and advocated dialogue as the vehicle to attain that
objective.
Turkey considers the Middle East Peace Process as a golden
opportunity for settling the Arab-Israeli conflict and reaching
a just peace in the region. Therefore, Turkey has given
her full support to the peace process from the very beginning.
The success of the process is vital for peace and stability
in the Middle East as well as for creating the necessary
environment for economic and social development, cooperation
and welfare in the region. All the peoples of the region
will benefit from a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
Turkey welcomed the agreements signed in the context of
the process so far. However, it is important to honor the
agreements and to implement them so that an atmosphere of
mutual confidence be created. As long as the parties live
up to their commitments, there is no reason why the vision
of a future Middle East where peoples of the region live
together in peace, security and prosperity should not become
a reality.
Turkey will welcome the revitalization of the Israeli-Syrian
and Israeli-Lebanese Tracks. The Palestinian question lies
at the core of the conflict in the region. Therefore, the
Israeli-Palestinian Track of the process should not be sidestepped
with revival of the other two tracks.
Turkey has always tried to contribute to the peace process.
Benefiting from our traditional ties with the Arab parties
to the process and our good relations with Israel, Turkey
encourages both sides for the success of the peace process.
Upon the invitation extended by the Palestinian Authority
and Israel, Turkey participated, together with five other
European countries, namely Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden
and Switzerland, in the Temporary International Presence
in Hebron (Al Khalil), the mandate of which is to promote
by their presence a feeling of security to the Palestinians
of the city.
Turkey also participated actively in the work of the Multilateral
Track of the process and shall continue to be actively involved
in the subsequent phases when the multilateral track will
be revived.
Turkey's support for the success of the process will continue.
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