(Turkish) FM's arrival (in Israel) signals upswing in ties

The Jerusalem Post ^ | 3 January 2005 / 22 Tevet 5765 | HERB KEINON

[anotherview]

Jan. 2, 2005 23:43 | Updated Jan. 3, 2005 16:53
FM's arrival signals upswing in ties
By HERB KEINON

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is scheduled to arrive Monday for a two-day visit here and in the Palestinian Authority, the highest-level Turkish official to arrive since the Islamic-based Justice and Development Party came to power in November 2002.

Gul's visit follows a rough year in relations with Turkey, strained by a series of anti-Israeli comments Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan made in the spring and summer.

One senior Israeli diplomatic official said Gul's visit is important precisely because of the difficult patch. He said the Foreign Ministry does not intend to raise the issue of Erdogan's comments, and that this is now "water under the bridge."

He said these issues have been clarified and discussed repeatedly in recent months when Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Turkey in July, and when four of Erdogan's top advisers came here in September.

Among the statements that raised both eyebrows and ire in Jerusalem was Erdogan's comment after the killing of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin that Israel was engaging in "state terrorism." This was followed by Erdogan equating Israel's treatment of the Palestinians to the way Jews were treated during the Spanish Inquisition and a comment that "recent Israeli actions have given rise to anti-Semitism in the world."

Tensions were further strained by persistent rumors in Ankara – fervently denied in Jerusalem – that Israel was training Kurdish commandos in northern Iraq. Turkey is concerned that any independence movement among Kurds in northern Iraq could spill over and envelop its Kurdish population.

In addition, Erdogan was reportedly miffed that Israel did not respond positively to his overtures last January to act as an intermediary with Syria.

Gul's visit, the diplomatic official said, is not intended to rehash the past, but rather to "look ahead." Despite last year's tension, ties continued to grow, with non-military trade reaching some $1.7 billion, up by $300 million from 2003.

Syria is likely to be high on the agenda, since Erdogan visited Damascus last week and Israel is expecting to be briefed on the visit.

Gul's visit is widely considered as preparatory for a trip by Erdogan in the near future. The death of Yasser Arafat helped pave the way for Gul's visit, since Israel's policy of not meeting with foreign diplomats who met with Arafat was an obstacle keeping him and Erdogan away. Neither of them, because of public opinion in Turkey, could afford to come and not meet Arafat.

Gul, who has visited in the past as a Turkish parliamentarian, is to meet Tuesday with President Moshe Katsav, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Olmert and Labor Party leader Shimon Peres. This is the same group British Prime Minister Tony Blair met when he visited last month.

On Wednesday, Gul is scheduled to go to Ramallah for talks with PA leaders.

A large entourage of some 40 businessmen, 40 journalists and about 20 advisers and parliamentarians will accompany Gul. The size of the delegation shows the strength of Turkish-Israeli ties, one Israeli official said.

Gul will be the first of some seven foreign ministers scheduled to visit this month, in addition to other high-profile visitors, such as former US president Jimmy Carter, who will be on hand to observe next week's PA election, and and unsuccessful presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, who is to arrive for a three-day visit on Saturday.

The other foreign ministers coming are those of Switzerland, Argentina, Denmark, Japan, Belgium and Luxembourg, which took over the rotating presidency of the EU on January 1.

[conservlib]

Turkey is getting more and more in the radical Islamic fold. The US, and Israel should be more careful getting in bed with these guys. President Bush should not pressure the EU to accept them either. Turkey MUST prove itself first. The majority of the Turkish citizens were against our war in Iraq, even the Muslim Turkish government refused to help us. There is a sweep of Islamic hate growing from Arabia, and flooding the entire Muslim world.

[LibertarianInExile]

Now, if they could just get AM, they'd have a shot at another conservative government in Israel... ;)

[anotherview]

Sorry, we'll have to disagree on this one. When was the last time you were in Turkey? It's a major vacation spot for Israelis :) Seriously, the Turks hate the Arabs and have no problem with Israel.

[Turk2]

You are seriously misinformed. Where did you come up with this rising Islamism trend theory about Turkey?

[conservlib]

Do yourself a favor, simply look at a picture of downtown Ankara or any major Turkish city today, and 30 years ago. The picture will tell you the whole story. You will find that 30 years ago the women in Turkey did not cover their heads, now they do. That illustrates that they did not progress, but rather went backwards.