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European Jewish Press, Belgium
Aug 24 2007
Israeli president reassures Turkish PM over ties
AFP and EJP Updated: 24/Aug/2007 11:06
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996 when the two
signed a military cooperation deal, much to the anger of Arab
countries and Iran. Picture: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L)
speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep
Tayyip Erdogan during a visit in Ankara.
ANKARA (AFP-EJP)---Israeli President Shimon Peres phoned Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to assure him of
Israel's desire to maintain close ties with its Muslim ally, an aide
to Erdogan said.
The call followed a decision on Tuesday by a prominent US Jewish
organization, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), to term as genocide
the mass killing of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, a label
Ankara fiercely rejects.
During the phone conversation, Erdogan expressed concern over the
ADL's move. He stressed the "futility" of the organization's decision
and Peres responded saying that Israel's well known position on the
issue of genocide claims `has not changed.'
The Israeli president also said Israel attached great importance to
relations with Turkey and promised to "advocate Turkey's position on
the issue in the US." Related stories
Jewish group chief reverses position, calls Armenian massacre a
genocide
Turkey's Jews disavow US Jewish organization over Armenian genocide
move
Ankara to foster strategy to counter ADL position on genocide of
Armenians
"Peres emphasized the importance Israel places on relations with
Turkey," Erdogan's aide told AFP. "It was a very fruitful
discussion."
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül voiced Ankara's
uneasiness and disappointment with the ADL move during a meeting with
Israel's outgoing ambassador to Turkey, Pinhas Aviv, who paid a visit
to the minister at his office in Ankara on Thursday.
Turkish diplomats have warned that the ADL statement might have
negative impacts on Turkish-Israeli as well as on Turkey-US
relations.
On Wednesday, the Israeli embassy here said the Jewish state
acknowledges the "horrible events" and the "terrible suffering" the
Armenians endured, but urged Jews not to take sides.
"Over the years the subject, undesirably, has become a loaded
political issue between the Armenians and the Turks.
"Israel, therefore, asks that neither one side nor the other be taken
and that no definitions be made of what happened. We hope that both
sides will enter into an open dialogue which will enable them to heal
the wounds," it said.
According to the Israeli press, Turkey's ambassador Namýk Tan cutted
short his holiday to return to Israel and express Turkey's concerns
over the ADL decision to Israeli officials.
Foreign Ministry officials denied the reports, saying Tan was due to
return to work since his vacation ended.
Main regional ally
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996 when the two
signed a military cooperation deal, much to the anger of Arab
countries and Iran.
But the US-led war in Iraq and Israel's relations with the
Palestinians have led to a rise in anti-US and anti-Israeli sentiment
in the Turkish public opinion.
Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government also angered Israel in 2006 when
it hosted Hamas officials in Ankara in what it defended as a bid to
convince the radical Islamist group to renounce violence.
Erdogan's AKP party won a landslide victory in the July 22 parliament
election.
http://www.ejpress.org/article/news/19464
Aug 24 2007
Israeli president reassures Turkish PM over ties
AFP and EJP Updated: 24/Aug/2007 11:06
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996 when the two
signed a military cooperation deal, much to the anger of Arab
countries and Iran. Picture: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L)
speaking at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep
Tayyip Erdogan during a visit in Ankara.
ANKARA (AFP-EJP)---Israeli President Shimon Peres phoned Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday to assure him of
Israel's desire to maintain close ties with its Muslim ally, an aide
to Erdogan said.
The call followed a decision on Tuesday by a prominent US Jewish
organization, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), to term as genocide
the mass killing of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, a label
Ankara fiercely rejects.
During the phone conversation, Erdogan expressed concern over the
ADL's move. He stressed the "futility" of the organization's decision
and Peres responded saying that Israel's well known position on the
issue of genocide claims `has not changed.'
The Israeli president also said Israel attached great importance to
relations with Turkey and promised to "advocate Turkey's position on
the issue in the US." Related stories
Jewish group chief reverses position, calls Armenian massacre a
genocide
Turkey's Jews disavow US Jewish organization over Armenian genocide
move
Ankara to foster strategy to counter ADL position on genocide of
Armenians
"Peres emphasized the importance Israel places on relations with
Turkey," Erdogan's aide told AFP. "It was a very fruitful
discussion."
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül voiced Ankara's
uneasiness and disappointment with the ADL move during a meeting with
Israel's outgoing ambassador to Turkey, Pinhas Aviv, who paid a visit
to the minister at his office in Ankara on Thursday.
Turkish diplomats have warned that the ADL statement might have
negative impacts on Turkish-Israeli as well as on Turkey-US
relations.
On Wednesday, the Israeli embassy here said the Jewish state
acknowledges the "horrible events" and the "terrible suffering" the
Armenians endured, but urged Jews not to take sides.
"Over the years the subject, undesirably, has become a loaded
political issue between the Armenians and the Turks.
"Israel, therefore, asks that neither one side nor the other be taken
and that no definitions be made of what happened. We hope that both
sides will enter into an open dialogue which will enable them to heal
the wounds," it said.
According to the Israeli press, Turkey's ambassador Namýk Tan cutted
short his holiday to return to Israel and express Turkey's concerns
over the ADL decision to Israeli officials.
Foreign Ministry officials denied the reports, saying Tan was due to
return to work since his vacation ended.
Main regional ally
Turkey has been Israel's main regional ally since 1996 when the two
signed a military cooperation deal, much to the anger of Arab
countries and Iran.
But the US-led war in Iraq and Israel's relations with the
Palestinians have led to a rise in anti-US and anti-Israeli sentiment
in the Turkish public opinion.
Erdogan's Islamist-rooted government also angered Israel in 2006 when
it hosted Hamas officials in Ankara in what it defended as a bid to
convince the radical Islamist group to renounce violence.
Erdogan's AKP party won a landslide victory in the July 22 parliament
election.
http://www.ejpress.org/article/news/19464