Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' prime minister in Gaza, has said his administration is continuing with preparations for a possible visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan despite uncertainties whether the visit will take place, a report in Sunday's Zaman said. “We continue our preparations as if it is certain that Prime Minister Erdoğan is coming,” Haniyeh told Turkey's semi-official Anatolia news agency in an interview in Gaza on Sunday. He said a high-level commission formed by a Cabinet decision was in charge of conducting the preparations.
Erdoğan has made it clear that he wants to visit Gaza after a trip to Egypt that begins on Monday. It is not clear, however, if the visit will take place as Egyptian officials are reportedly reluctant to let the Turkish prime minister proceed to Gaza from Egypt's Rafah border crossing. Erdoğan earlier said Turkey was in talks with Egyptian officials for a possible Gaza visit and added that the process would continue until the last minute.
The report said that Erdoğan will visit three North Africa countries -- Egypt, Tunisia and Libya -- where popular revolts toppled long-time dictators in a wave of reform referred to as the Arab Spring. A statement released by the Prime Ministry last week to announce Erdoğan's Sept. 12-15 tour did not mention a trip to Gaza.
Erdoğan has made it clear that he wants to visit Gaza after a trip to Egypt that begins on Monday. It is not clear, however, if the visit will take place as Egyptian officials are reportedly reluctant to let the Turkish prime minister proceed to Gaza from Egypt's Rafah border crossing. Erdoğan earlier said Turkey was in talks with Egyptian officials for a possible Gaza visit and added that the process would continue until the last minute.
The report said that Erdoğan will visit three North Africa countries -- Egypt, Tunisia and Libya -- where popular revolts toppled long-time dictators in a wave of reform referred to as the Arab Spring. A statement released by the Prime Ministry last week to announce Erdoğan's Sept. 12-15 tour did not mention a trip to Gaza.
Read more:Sunday Zaman
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