Turkey Optimistic Middle East Ceasefire Will Be Extended

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday said Turkey remained optimistic that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, which ends Wednesday, would be extended, giving more time for talks between the two sides.

Pakistan is preparing to hold high-level Washington-Tehran peace talks again, after the first round in Islamabad on April 11 ended in a deadlock.

"No one wants to see a new war break out when the ceasefire ends next week. We hope that the parties will extend the ceasefire," Foreign Minister Fidan said at the closing of a diplomatic forum held in Antalya, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (20/4).

"I hope there will be an extension. I am optimistic," he continued.

Turkey, along with Egypt, expressed its support for the initiative led by Pakistan in extending negotiations and preventing the return of hostilities.

Foreign Minister Fidan said he spoke with Pakistani officials on Sunday, but would not give a date for when new talks could be held.

"The continuation of negotiations is something that the entire international community wants. There is significant pressure in this regard," he said.

"Under this pressure, I believe that the parties should not see any obstacles to extending the ceasefire to continue peace negotiations," he continued.

Foreign Minister Fidan said that unless the two sides chose to take more confrontational steps, there was "a high probability that the ceasefire would be extended and negotiations would continue."

"Hopefully, a more positive scenario will emerge. With a little luck, by then, the key issues in the negotiations may have been resolved," he added.

Despite optimism and progress in negotiations, Iran said on Sunday a final peace deal was still "far" away.

"It is clear that negotiations have reached an important stage. Both parties continue the talks with a sincere sense of sincerity. They also have the will to continue this process," said Foreign Minister Fidan.

The top Turkish diplomat also accused Israel of trying to create a "fait accompli" in Lebanon, despite an agreed ceasefire, and denounced what he called "Israeli expansionism."

"The ongoing Iran-US negotiations seem to cover this situation (in Lebanon). Israel seems to be trying to take advantage of this disruption to create a fait accompli," said Foreign Minister Fidan.