Peres in historic Turkey visit

ANKARA – Israeli President Shimon Peres said yesterday he believed his country could now make peace with Palestinians.

“I believe we can make peace now with Palestinians,” Peres said, but added it might not happen quickly. “It takes time to make peace.”Peres was speaking in Ankara after meeting yesterday with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul, just weeks before a US-sponsored negotiations between Israel and Palestinians in Annapolis, Maryland.Today, he meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was arriving in Ankara later yesterday.Gul said Turkey expected the Annapolis talks to yield ‘concrete and tangible results’, and said Syria should also be invited to participate.”I hope that Syria is also invited to Annapolis and they attend,” Gul said.Peres welcomed the participation of all “moderate countries,” saying “the voice of peace will be stronger and louder” with more participants attending.But he accused Syria of not taking steps for peace.Syria has belittled the talks, with Syrian ambassador to the US Imad Moustapha last week calling them a “waste” and a “photo opportunity.””All participants are decided not to let Annapolis be a failure, not to let this chance pass,” Peres said.He cautioned against high expectations from the meeting, but said it could serve as a starting point, and that Turkey’s participation would also be useful.Turkey, a Nato member and Israel’s closest ally in the Islamic world, has in the past played the role of mediator between the Jewish state and its Muslim neighbours.Peres said in an interview on private CNN Turk television Sunday that he and Turkish officials also planned to discuss Turkey’s plans to set up an industrial park in the West Bank.The industrial zone is expected to create jobs for thousands of Palestinians.Turkey is waiting Abbas’ government to decide how much land could be allocated for the project.On Tuesday, Peres will become the first Israeli president ever to speak before the legislature of a Muslim country.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the president’s visit to Turkey “extraordinary.””This is the first time the Israeli president has been invited to speak in a Muslim parliament, in a Muslim country,” he said.Abbas will separately address the Turkish Parliament today.Peres said he and Gul had disagreed, however, on Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, and Peres accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, building long-range missiles and sponsoring terrorism.Turkey says countries should have the right to seek nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.”We are against any type of weapons of mass destruction in our region,” Gul said.Nampa-AP”It takes time to make peace.”Peres was speaking in Ankara after meeting yesterday with Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul, just weeks before a US-sponsored negotiations between Israel and Palestinians in Annapolis, Maryland.Today, he meets Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was arriving in Ankara later yesterday.Gul said Turkey expected the Annapolis talks to yield ‘concrete and tangible results’, and said Syria should also be invited to participate.”I hope that Syria is also invited to Annapolis and they attend,” Gul said.Peres welcomed the participation of all “moderate countries,” saying “the voice of peace will be stronger and louder” with more participants attending.But he accused Syria of not taking steps for peace.Syria has belittled the talks, with Syrian ambassador to the US Imad Moustapha last week calling them a “waste” and a “photo opportunity.””All participants are decided not to let Annapolis be a failure, not to let this chance pass,” Peres said.He cautioned against high expectations from the meeting, but said it could serve as a starting point, and that Turkey’s participation would also be useful.Turkey, a Nato member and Israel’s closest ally in the Islamic world, has in the past played the role of mediator between the Jewish state and its Muslim neighbours.Peres said in an interview on private CNN Turk television Sunday that he and Turkish officials also planned to discuss Turkey’s plans to set up an industrial park in the West Bank.The industrial zone is expected to create jobs for thousands of Palestinians.Turkey is waiting Abbas’ government to decide how much land could be allocated for the project.On Tuesday, Peres will become the first Israeli president ever to speak before the legislature of a Muslim country.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the president’s visit to Turkey “extraordinary.””This is the first time the Israeli president has been invited to speak in a Muslim parliament, in a Muslim country,” he said.Abbas will separately address the Turkish Parliament today.Peres said he and Gul had disagreed, however, on Iran’s disputed nuclear programme, and Peres accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, building long-range missiles and sponsoring terrorism.Turkey says countries should have the right to seek nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.”We are against any type of weapons of mass destruction in our region,” Gul said.Nampa-AP