Turkey says Palestinian delay good for peace process

ANKARA, Turkey (Reuters) -- Turkey said on Monday it welcomed a Palestinian decision to delay the declaration of independent statehood until at least November 15 as good for the Middle East peace process.

Turkey, a close military and diplomatic ally of Israel, supports the principle of Palestinian statehood.

"The important thing is that it is done at a time and in a style that will help the peace process," a Foreign Ministry official told Reuters.

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The 129-member Palestinian Central Council said after a meeting in Gaza on Sunday that final preparations for statehood should be completed by November 15. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had pledged to declare a state as early as Wednesday.

"It is understood that this (the delay) was done with the agreement of the parties. This is positive," the Turkish official said.

The Palestinian decision has kept alive the prospect of further peace talks with Israel, after the inconclusive talks at Camp David in the United States in July.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said last month that Turkey's historical ties to the Middle East allowed it to work as a facilitator in a peace deal between Israel and Palestine.

"Turkey is ready to continue contributing as a facilitator if and when the parties wish," the official said.

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