Abbas denies he took sides with Greek Cypriots

The reports are groundless and fabricated,” said Abbas, who was in Ankara on a two-day visit for talks with Turkish leaders and to attend an inauguration ceremony for the new Palestinian Embassy in Turkey.

Turkish media, citing news reports by Greek Cypriot media, stated last week that Abbas and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias mutually pledged support for each other's positions concerning international issues faced by their governments during the Abbas' visit. Greek Cyprus says Turkey occupies part of its territory, while Ankara says its troops were dispatched to the island in 1974 to protect Cyprus' Turkish population following a coup on the island by supporters of unification with Greece.

The troops are stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), not recognized by the Greek Cypriot administration or rest of the world as an independent state.

“We, as the leaders, get used to being subject to slanders,” Abbas complained and added that recently there were some other allegations about him.

Fatah Secretary General Faruq Kaddumi last week in a press conference in Jordan claimed that late Palestinian Leader Yaser Arafat was killed by Abbas in a conspiracy with the involvement of Israel and the CIA.

Kaddumi disclosed that Arafat had confided to him the transcript of a secret meeting involving Abbas and US intelligence officials, as well as former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The meeting allegedly took place on March 22, 2004.

“This document is the production of an Israeli internet site,” Abbas said and recalled another rumor about himself: “There were claims that I had shouted at [Egyptian] President Mubarak. This is a lie, too,” he underlined.

Gül and Abbas said they exchanged views about the recent developments in the Middle East and discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Abbas thanked the Turkish side for its support for the Palestine cause and also for their financial help for the new embassy building: “I hope we can inaugurate the Turkish Embassy to Palestine in East Jerusalem after the establishment of our state,” Abbas said. Gül and Abbas later inaugurated the new building in Ankara.

Gül: Stop settlements

Gül said for his part that Turkey backed the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and called on Israel to stop establishment of new Jewish settlements.

“For a lasting peace to be established in the Middle East, two independent states should coexist and a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital should be established,” Gül said. He said Turkey backed Abbas' efforts to that effect and said Israeli efforts to build new Jewish settlements and change the status of East Jerusalem hindered peace efforts.

Gül also said that the human tragedy in the Gaza Strip should end, humanitarian aid should be conveyed to the region, and the blockade should be lifted immediately for the reconstruction of the area. "We hope the optimistic atmosphere prevailing right now will not be in vain and everyone will work for peace," Gül said. He also said that Turkey would do everything it could to contribute to the process.

When Gül was asked about the position of Turkey regarding an EU call for the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations, Gül said that on such matters the consensus is important: “There are important actors in these kinds of matters and their consensus is important. If is a consensus, Turkey of course will undertake its duties,” he underlined. EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has said the UN should unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state to put pressure on Israel if it cannot strike a peace deal. Israeli officials have dismissed the proposal.

Abbas said that the Palestinian side was ready to fulfill its commitments stemming from international agreements, but accused Israel of not respecting international law and urged it to freeze the construction of settlements.

The demand has been a sticking point blocking the resumption of peace talks. Israel insists on continuing some construction to allow for the growth of settler families in an effort to expand Jewish presence in territory the Palestinians claim for part of a future state.

US President Barack Obama wants a complete halt to settlement construction, a demand that has caused the most serious rift in US-Israeli relations for a decade. On Thursday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also said a freeze on Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank could help restart the peace process in the region. "I feel that if the Israelis were prepared to freeze settlement construction, there would be a response in the Arab world. And I think that is a way that you can see that movement forward could happen,” Brown said. Abbas arrived in Turkey on Thursday afternoon and had talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the evening. He also met Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Friday.