Davutoglu says Israel's apology meets Turkey's demand

The Turkish foreign minister said on Wednesday that Israel's letter of apology was in line with Turkey's requests.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the letter of apology from Israel to Turkey included the elements Turkey had demanded.

"For us, the matter has been solved," Davutoglu told reporters in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who summoned Turkish Ambassador in Tel Aviv Oguz Celikkol Tuesday to express Israel's uneasiness over a Turkish TV-series showing Israeli agents kidnapping a child, had Celikkol sit at a lower armchair in front of a table with only the Israeli flag on it, refusing to shake his hand in front of the press.

Ayalon's snub violating all diplomatic manners drew strong reaction from Turkish officials. Turkey asked Israel to make an apology. Turkish and Israeli foreign ministries released statements one after the other.

On Wednesday evening, Israel sent a letter to Turkey apologizing for Danny Ayalon's treatment of Celikkol.

Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Davutoglu defined settlement of the diplomatic row as a positive development.

"I hope we would not face such incidents again, and our bilateral relations would be maintained within an ethical framework and the scope of courtesy rules as required by international diplomacy," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu said Turkey would show respect to all countries as long as relations were maintained in that way.

"We would once more like to stress that it will be to the best interests of countries that show such stance not to go on assuming such attitude and behaving that way," he also said.

Davutoglu said Turkey-Israel relations were comprehensive, but the recent regional policy of Israel and the great deal of civilian loss in intense attacks on Gaza irrespective of whether they were civilians made Turkish public indignant.

"We will continue to show reaction until Israel assumes a pacifist policy," he said.

Davutoglu said such criticisms were a part of Turkey's responsibility to the region.

"We want peace to prevail in our region, and we want good relations in our region," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu also wished that Turkey and Israel had good relations and hoped that the Middle East peace process would be settled on a right axis among Palestine, Syria and
Lebanon.

The Turkish foreign minister wished that Israel assumed pacifist policies and contributed to a lasting stability.

"Turkey-Israel relations will be settled on a right axis in such an atmosphere, but we will not accept permanent tension in our region," he said.

Also, Davutoglu said Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak's scheduled visit was a visit that could be paid.

/World Bulletin/