Letters exchanged between Farouk El-Kaddumi, Head of the Political Department and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Melih Esenbel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey

18 February 1975

Letter dated 18 February 1975 from the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

I have the honour to enclose herewith the copies of the unofficial translations of the letters exchanged between His Excellency Mr. Farouk El-Kaddumi, Head of the Political Department and member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and His Excellency Mr. Melih Esenbel, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey.

I would be grateful if these letters could be circulated as a document of the General Assembly under the item “Question of Palestine”.

(Signed) Osman OLCAY

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

A/10048

English

Annex I

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ANNEX I

Letter dated 15 December 1974 from the Head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey

Upon the termination of the debate on the question of Palestine included as a separate item in the agenda of the twenty-ninth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1974 and the most successful conclusion obtained for this just cause, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the stand of your Permanent Representative to the United Nations in line with the policy of your esteemed Government for the cause of our people and the struggle pursued in all international fora.

The support of your esteemed Government in our just national struggle, together with the similar support of all liberty and peace-loving States, has not only strengthened our resistance and increased our power, but has also assisted in restoring the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people and the, liberation of Jerusalem from the hands of Zionist invaders.

In this connexion, I have the pleasure to inform you that we have appointed Mr. Said Kemal, Deputy Head of the Political Department in the Arab Republic of Egypt, for the continuation of contacts destined to strengthen and develop all our mutual relations.

Please accept my deep respects and consideration.

Farouk EL-KADDUMI

Head of the Political Department

Member of the Executive Committee

A/10048

English

Annex II

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ANNEX II

Letter dated 12 February 1975 from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the Head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization

I would like to express my thanks for your letter of 15 December 1974 and for your words of praise for my Government.

Turkey, which has accepted the need to secure justice and equality among all nations as the basic principle of its foreign policy and which is one of the nations having opened and pioneered the era of liberation and independence under the leadership of the Great Ataturk, has since the very beginning supported the just cause and the struggle of the Palestinian people.

Furthermore, Turkey believes that a just and permanent peace in the Middle East can only be obtained through the evacuation of the territories under occupation, coupled with the recognition of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. Turkey has therefore welcomed the last resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and considers them as steps taken in the right direction.

In this connexion, I am also pleased to inform you that Mr. Fahir Alaçam, Ambassador of Turkey in Cairo, has been assigned the task to carry on our contacts with the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Wishing your just cause to obtain success in the near future, I would like you to accept the assurances of my respectful consideration.

Melih ESENBEL

Minister for Foreign Affairs