Babacan attends OIC foreign ministers meeting

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, currently in Kampala, Uganda, yesterday attended the 35th meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and held a series of talks. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Babacan said that the Cyprus issue and the situation of the Turkish minority living in Greece's Western Thrace region had been discussed. Stating that that many countries appreciate Turkey's mediating peace negotiations between Israel and Syria, he added, "The Mideast peace process has two basic planks, namely Israel and Palestine and Israel and Syria. Developments between Israel and Palestine have not been fruitful, but the second round of Israeli-Syrian meetings concluded successfully, and peace talks held under Turkey's auspices will continue with the sides meeting again." In related news, Babacan is expected to skip a Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) meeting set for June 26, as it conflicts with a National Security Council (NSC) meeting the same day.