Turkish Member of Conciliation Body Says Final Decision on Jerusalem is Up to U.N.

Hussein Djahid Yalchin, Turkish member of the U.N. Conciliation Commission for Palestine, told a press conference today that although he agreed with his American and French colleagues on the Commission on implementation of the U.N. decision to internationalize Jerusalem, “it will be the duty of the United Nations to reach a final decision in the light of present conditions.”

Mr. Yalchin expressed optimism over the final solution of the Palestine issue and said that considerable progress has already been made towards its settlement. He pointed to the armistice agreements signed between Israel and the Arab states as proof of the efficacy of the Conciliation Commission.

“The difficulties which the Commission had to face in its recent sessions,” the Turkish member stated, “were created both by the Jews and Arabs. These difficulties arose from the Arabs’ insistence in not recognizing the existence of the state of Israel and the stubborn Israel attitude with regard to the problem of the refugees.” Mr. Yalchin added that the “world would hail action” on the part of the Jews in favor of the Arab DP’s.

Emphasizing that Israel “is a democratic country wishing to live and develop in peace,” Mr. Yalchin predicted that the Jewish state will become a “peaceful element” in the Middle East. He added that “friendly cooperation between Turkey and the various countries of the Middle East–including Israel–will contribute to the stabilization and social progress of the Middle East.”