• Published 16:22 29.10.09
  • Latest update 21:31 29.10.09

Turkey envoy: Good ties with Israel part of our global aspirations

New Turkish ambassador to Israel says he is committed to easing tense relations between the countries.

By The Associated Press Tags: Turkey Israel news Palestinians

Turkey's new ambassador to Israel said on Thursday that he is committed to improving the strained ties between the two countries.

Ahmet Oguz Celikkol told an Israeli academic conference that good relations with Israel are part of Turkey's global aspirations.

Ties between the two soured following Israel's winter offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Turkey this month canceled an international military exercise in which Israeli pilots were set to participate. Tensions deepened after Turkey's state-run TV aired a drama series that portrayed Israeli soldiers killing a Palestinian girl.

Celikkol says he hopes to work with local media and universities to help the Turkish and Israeli societies understand each other better.

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  • 10. 0 0
    Is Turkey suffering from split personality?
    • Disgusted
    • 11.11.09
    • 09:01

    It seems the Turks are not sure if they are Turkeys or Crows. Why does anybody bother with them? They look exactly as smart and witty as yesterdays stale bread.

  • 9. 0 0
    The relations with Turkey are very important:
    • 17
    • 29.10.09
    • 22:53

    They should gtant independent Kurd state and aceept responsibility for Armenian Nakba.

  • 8. 0 0
    Anyway, Turkey keeps us on a roller-coaster...
    • Esther
    • 29.10.09
    • 22:25

    ...one day she can't do without us... ...and the next day we are relegated to purgatory for uncertain 'crimes'...

  • 7. 0 0
    Turkish Hypocricy
    • Armen
    • 29.10.09
    • 22:20

    Turkish hypocricy knows no limits, why do'nt they count the skeletons in their own dark closet(s)? Does the Armenian Genocide ring a bell, the first Genocide of the 20th century that gave Hitler more reason to perpetrate the Holocaust. What about the Pontian massacres and the expulsion of an entire Greek population. Wait a minute, is that old history? Then what about Cyprus, the Kurds and their rights, the ten million Alawaites? should we go on? Who the hell they think they are to criticize others?

  • 6. 0 0
    The outcome of NATO and US pressure is lip-service.
    • Fortuna Benmayor
    • 29.10.09
    • 22:06

    Turkey alligned itself overnight with Iran and Syria.

  • 5. 0 0
    The Israel-Turkey alliance is over
    • Yonatan
    • 29.10.09
    • 20:14

    Turkey's armed forces no longer guard the secular republic and can no longer intervene when the government becomes too Islamist. Turkish and Syrian forces have recently carried out maneuvers near Ankara. Turkey's armed forces have lost out to its politicians. A "Turkey-Syria High Level Strategic Cooperation Council" has just been established, and its concluding joint statement announced the formation of "a long-term strategic partnership" between the two sides. Improved ties with Tehran and Damascus are only one part of a much larger effort by Ankara to enhance relations with regional and Muslim states. Turkey wishes to distance itself from the West and emerge as a sort of modern Ottoman Empire. In short, the Turkish government is closer politically to Iran and Syria than to the United States and Israel.

  • 4. 0 0
  • 3. 0 0
    Turkey envoy
    • Cyasher
    • 29.10.09
    • 18:03

    American: Leave this to the Israelis. They are the people who have to deal with Turkey diplomatically.

  • 2. 0 0
    Nobody believe what American says
    • Or Can
    • 29.10.09
    • 17:46

    When an Christian country like Russia have very friendly relations with a terrorist state like Iran and calling Ahmadinejad "a very Good friend" is nothing else but supporting terrorism.Counting on them is at least naive.

  • 1. 0 0
    Nobody believe what Turkey says
    • American
    • 29.10.09
    • 17:24

    When an islamic country like Turkey have very friendly relations with a terrorist state like Iran and calling Ahmadinejad "a very Good friend" is nothing else but supporting terrorism.Counting on them is at least naive.