Turkish PM Erdogan’s Gaza trip to happen in ‘shortest and rightest time’

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Gaza is on the agenda, however, no date has yet been set, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said today Hurriyetdailynews reported.

"No speculation should be made about the date," Davutoglu said at a joint press conference with visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, expressing wish that "this visit to Palestine takes place in the shortest and rightest time."

During his visit to Washington in May, Erdogan said that the visit would probably take place in June and include the West Bank. "Gaza is ready. We cannot ready ourselves because of incidents. We can make a surprise at any time," Erdogan said June 25 in Ankara.

Erdogan had previously said he intended to visit Gaza in April, before announcing that the trip would finally take place after his talks in the United States.

The prime minister met last week Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal in Ankara.

Haniyeh May 4 described Erdogan's prospective visit as "historic", adding that the Hamas government had already started the preparations. "We will host Erdogan as Turkey and the Turkish people deserve," Haniyeh was quoted as saying by Anatolia news agency.


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