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Foreign ministers

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Palestine Visas and UN General Assembly

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan emphasized the sensitivity of the issue surrounding the cancellation of visas for Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, who were set to attend the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. Fidan stressed that issues concerning Palestine cannot be discussed without the Palestinians, and that Turkey has been working intensively on the matter. He highlighted the technical aspects of the visa cancellation and explained the efforts being made to find alternative measures, including consulting with relevant actors such as Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman.

Key Takeaways:

  • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that issues concerning Palestine cannot be discussed without the Palestinians, emphasizing the sensitivity of the matter.
  • Fidan explained that the cancellation of visas, including for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has two technical aspects: the permanent representative of Palestine can participate in the General Assembly sessions, but Abbas may not be able to attend due to the visa denial.
  • Two separate efforts are underway to address the issue, as per instructions from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: an intensive effort within the ministry to find alternative measures, and consulting with relevant actors such as Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and Oman.
  • The Palestinian brothers consider the recognition of the State of Palestine by permanent members of the Security Council, such as France and the UK, as a priority benefit for the Palestinian cause.
  • Neighboring Arab countries believe that the greater benefit lies in the recognition of the State of Palestine by other actors, and therefore support continuing with the program in New York.

Statistics:

  • Seven-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation-Arab League Contact Group released a statement calling the visa cancellation decision wrong and insisting it should be corrected.
  • 80th UN General Assembly in New York is scheduled to take place this month.
  • Recognition of Palestinian statehood by major Western countries, primarily France and Belgium, is believed to be a key factor in the current diplomatic efforts.
  • 2 separate efforts are underway to address the visa cancellation issue, as per instructions from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Sources:

  • Anadolu Agency news release, no publication date mentioned.
  • Turkish Press Federation, no publication date mentioned.

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