Turkey yesterday pledged support for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in his people's struggle for statehood and efforts to reform Palestinian institutions. "Lasting peace and stability in the Middle East will not be possible until the Palestinian people achieve their independent state and the honorable, prosperous and free life they deserve," Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said at a lunch with Abbas. "Rest assured that all your efforts for peace will be wholeheartedly supported by Turkey," he said, according to a statement released by parliament. "We are confident that you will accomplish in the most efficient way the reforms required in the institutions of the Palestinian Authority. We will be happy to share with our Palestinian brothers our experience on reform and extend our solidarity." Abbas, who was visiting Ankara on the last leg of a four-nation tour following his election as successor to Yasser Arafat, welcomed Turkey's support. "We take Turkey's democratic experience as a model," he told reporters through an interpreter. Abbas also highlighted the importance of Jerusalem for the world's Muslims. "With the support of peace-loving nations, Jerusalem will again belong to the Muslims and worship will continue in Jerusalem until doomsday," he said. On Tuesday, Abbas met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as well as Turkish business leaders, who said they would convene a meeting with Palestinian and Israeli colleagues in Turkey in March to discuss possible joint projects.