Ankara: Vice President Hussein Al Sheikh on Tuesday met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Vice President Al Sheikh conveyed President Mahmoud Abbas' greetings to President Erdogan and the brotherly Turkish people, while commending Turkey's steadfast and supportive political positions on the legitimate Palestinian rights to freedom and independence, as well as the provision of humanitarian aid.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Al Sheikh briefed the Turkish President on the latest developments in the occupied territory, emphasizing the importance of moving forward to end the Palestinian people's suffering in the Gaza Strip, prevent displacement, and proceed toward reconstruction in the Strip. He also stressed the importance of applying pressure to halt all unilateral Israeli actions that violate international law in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and to stop colonial settlement activity, colonist terrorism, and the withholding of Palestinian funds.
Al Sheikh reiterated the pressing need to halt Israeli attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites, advancing a political process based on international legitimacy, ending the occupation, and realizing the Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem. He expressed his vehement condemnation of the enactment of the law on the execution of Palestinian prisoners, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention that guarantees the rights of persons under occupation, and contravenes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He called on international community institutions to shoulder their responsibilities toward the war crimes to which the Palestinian people are subjected daily at the hands of the occupation. He reaffirmed the Palestinian position in condemnation of the Iranian attacks on Gulf countries, Jordan, Turkey, and other states, while stressing the need to preserve the sovereignty and security of these countries and achieve peace and stability for all in the region.
For his part, the Turkish President reaffirmed his country's steadfast and principled position in support of the legitimate Palestinian rights of the Palestinian people and the realization of their independent state with its capital in holy Jerusalem. During the meeting, discussions were held on the latest developments in the region and ways to enhance cooperation and joint coordination in addressing issues of common interest, in addition to strengthening bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and peoples.
Meanwhile, Vice President Al Sheikh also held meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Numan Kurtulmus, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament.