New Palestinian Embassy inaugurated by presidents

Today's Zaman (Link) (July 20, 2009)

During the official inauguration ceremony for the new Palestinian Embassy in Ankara on Friday, President Abdullah G�l said he would some day like to open a Turkish Embassy in Palestine, hopefully in East Jerusalem.

G�l, accompanied by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, attended the opening ceremony for the new embassy and ambassador's residence for Palestine, built in the Oran section of Ankara, a newly developed section of the city popular with embassies. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also attended to the opening.

The building was constructed with the assistance of the Turkish government. During the Palestinian president's official two-day visit to Ankara, Turkish officials decided to build a university hospital and a new industrial zone in Palestine and a congress center in Ramallah. Turkey will also help set up the technological infrastructure for Palestinian state television, diplomats said.

Abbas described the embassy building as a "symbol of friendship and brotherhood" between Palestine and Turkey and thanked Turkey for its continuing support of the Palestinian people. He also expressed hope to see a new Turkish embassy in East Jerusalem, which he coined as the capital of the soon-to-be-realized independent Palestinian state. To mark the occasion, G�l and Abbas planted a blue spruce tree in the garden of the embassy.

The ceremony was also attended by Yasser Abed Rabbo, senior advisor to Abbas, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Nabil Marouf. Ambassadors and representatives of other embassies were also present at the ceremony.