ANKARA – A Turkish minister on Saturday defended Ankara’s decision to invite members of Hamas for talks, saying the government’s goal was to convince the Palestinian militant group to renounce violence.
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek told the Anatolia news agency Ankara used the meetings here Thursday and Friday to urge Hamas to embrace peaceful and democratic means to resist Israeli occupation.
The meetings in the wake of the group’s landslide victory in Palestinian general elections provoked strong criticism from Israel, which has been the target of dozens of Hamas suicide bombings.
“Turkey affirmed the following things to the (Hamas) delegation … it is necessary to resolve problems through peaceful means, abandon violence and be aware of the value of democracy,” Cicek was quoted as saying.
“There is nothing reprehensible about that.”
Turkey also used the meetings to press Hamas to recognise Israel and accept its existence, Cicek said.
“Turkey recognises it, the whole world recognises it. By accepting these realities you will greatly facilitate the resolution of the problem,” the minister said, summarising part of Ankara’s message to Hamas.
Turkey has been Israel’s main regional ally since 1996, when the two countries completed a treaty of military cooperation.
But as a mainly Muslim country it maintains strong relations with the Palestinians and supports their ambitions to create an independent state.
Several countries have agreed to hold talks with members of Hamas despite Israel’s complaints that such meetings undermine international efforts to persuade the group to renounce violence.
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