ANKARA, June 25, 2011 (WAFA) – Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday announced his country’s full support of the Palestinian plan to seek United Nations recognition and full membership of a Palestinian state.

Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s willingness to provide all support possible to achieve the national unity and prevent another Palestinian internal division, during a joint press conference with President Mahmoud Abbas following a closed talks session between them in Ankara.

Abbas discussed the Palestinian reconciliation with Erdogan, saying “we are going ahead with the reconciliation and we will do whatever possible to achieve a national unity, in order to form an independent caretaker government, as well as to hold the presidential, parliamentary and national council elections within a year according to the agreement.”

Abbas praised the Turkish support to the Palestinians and stressed the extent of cooperation between both sides in seeking UN recognition.

In a related matter, Abbas welcomed Obama’s speech on implementing the principle of the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with minor land-exchange, calling on the Israeli government to accept the principle and to stop settlement activities, including Jerusalem, in order to resume negotiations.

Abbas praised the European efforts to achieve peace, stressing that the Palestinians have welcomed the French Foreign Minister’s peace initiative to resume negotiations weeks ago, but it was rejected by Israel.

R.Q./F.R.