Israel, Turkey Make Third Attempt To Reach Understanding

ISRAEL, TURKEY MAKE THIRD ATTEMPT TO REACH UNDERSTANDING

PanARMENIAN.Net
June 21, 2011 – 17:19 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Israeli and Turkish officials have been holding
secret direct talks to try to solve the diplomatic crisis between
the two countries, a senior official in Jerusalem said.

The negotiations are receiving the Americans’ support, Haaretz daily
reported.

A source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry and a U.S. official confirmed
that talks are being held, though in Israel the Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister’s aides declined to comment.

The talks are being held between an Israeli official on behalf
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, a firm supporter of rehabilitating
ties with Israel.

Talks are also being held between the Israeli representative on the
UN inquiry committee on last year’s Gaza flotilla, Yosef Ciechanover,
and Turkey’s representative on the committee, Ozdem Sanberk. The two,
who have been working together for several months on the UN committee,
pass on messages between Israel and Turkey and have taken pains to
draft understandings to end the crisis.

In addition, the U.S. administration has held talks with senior Turkish
officials, mainly to foil the flotilla to Gaza due later this month,
but also in a bid to improve relations with Israel.

This is Israel and Turkey’s third attempt to reach understanding
that would end the crisis. The first attempt took place after the
Carmel fire in December. Ciechanover and Sanberk reached partial
understandings, but Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman objected
to Israel’s apologizing to Turkey for last year’s flotilla events,
and the talks were halted.

Another unsuccessful attempt took place two months ago.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress