President General Pervez Musharraf has telephonically discussed with Turkish leaders the deteriorating situation in the Middle East with particular reference to the Palestinian issue, says an official statement. The President spoke on telephone with Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Musharraf also spoke with EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana by phone. He also discussed with the Turkish leaders his recent visit to the five Middle Eastern countries to exchange views with their leaders on the Middle East. The President shared with the Turkish leaders his concern over the dangers that this situation poses to the Muslim world and regional and global peace. Musharraf conveyed to the Turkish leaders that all the leaders he met agreed on the need for a strong new initiative to address the Palestine issue and the Middle East situation and for efforts to bring harmony in the Islamic world. The statement said that the Turkish leaders fully supported the President's efforts and the idea of a fresh initiative to address the grave situation in the Middle East. Solana expressed appreciation for the President's initiative and assured his full support to political and diplomatic efforts to address the Palestine issue. He informed the President about his own visit to the region and agreed on the need for concerted efforts to revive the stalled peace process.
