Erdogan calls on new Israeli government to recognize PalestineFebruary 25, 2009 - 18:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tehran has sought Ankara's help in finding a solution for its diplomatic crisis with the United States. Erdogan said that Iran requested Turkey's help while George W. Bush was still in office, and the message was relayed to Washington at that time. He added that he is considering whether to broach the matter with President Barack Obama, who has said he hopes to hold talks with Iran at the G20 summit, scheduled to be held in London this April. Responding to a question on Turkey's future role in any Washington-Tehran talks, Erdogan said, "Iran does want Turkey to play such a role. And if the United States also wants and asks us to play this role, we are ready to do this." In the interview Erdogan also called on Prime Minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu to recognize the Palestinian people's right to their own state. He compared Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist to the Likud's rejection of the two-state solution, adding that any eventual Israeli-Palestinian process would have to include Hamas. "We are always telling Hamas to act differently, that we are for a two-state solution: Palestine and Israel. They have to accept this, but Israel also has to accept Palestine. Is Israel right now accepting Palestine? They are still not accepting them. But it is being expected of the Palestinian people to accept Israel. Now go and ask Mr. Netanyahu if he is accepting Palestine." Once again slamming the IDF's recent offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Erdogan went on to call the Islamist group the party of "change and reform," Ynet reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. |