Turkey reaffirms its support for Palestinian cause

President Abdullah Gul reiterated Turkey's support for the Palestinian cause of becoming an independent state at a meeting he had with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas at the Cankaya presidential palace in Ankara on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed the formation of a national unity government in Palestine and the state's UN bid as well as recent developments regarding the region during the meeting, which was held indoors and closed to the press. Turkey strongly supports international recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state, which was reaffirmed in the meeting. Abbas flew to Ankara on Tuesday with Davutoglu after attending Mevlana commemorations in Konya. Ambassadors of Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, Mauritania, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Jordan and Palestine were present at Ankara's Esenboga airport when Abbas arrived. President Abbas arrived in Konya on Monday to receive honorary citizenship granted by Konya province. Speaking at a ceremony on Tuesday held to award Abbas his certificate of honorary citizenship, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey was pleased that Abbas accepted the title of honorary citizen from Konya province. "We are honored to present President Abbas this certificate," Davutoglu stated. Also speaking at the ceremony, President Abbas said he was honored to be an honorary citizen of Konya. We have always witnessed warm hospitality from our Turkish brothers and sisters and they have always supported the Palestinian cause. Receiving honorary citizenship from Konya is an honor for both me and the people of Palestine, Abbas asserted. Mayor of Konya Tahir Akyurek said the Palestinian cause was in the hearts of Konya's residents and will also be their cause from now on as the Palestinian leader has become a citizen of Konya.