- Title: Turkey says agreement with Israel not finalised yet
- Date: 20th December 2015
- Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (DECEMBER 20, 2015) (REUTERS) AK PARTY SPOKESMAN OMER CELIK ARRIVING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) AK PARTY SPOKESMAN, OMER CELIK, SAYING: "An agreement has not been finalised yet. A deal has not been signed yet. We are working on a draft. There is no doubt that the Israeli state and its people are friends of Turkey. The criticism we have made so far has b
- Embargoed: 4th January 2016 22:00
- Keywords: Turkey Israel ties deal flotilla Mavi Marmara Palestine natural gas
- Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
- City: ANKARA, TURKEY
- Country: Turkey
- Reuters ID: LVA0013ENQQMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A spokesperson for the ruling AK Party said on Sunday (December 20) a deal to normalise relations with Israel, including the return of ambassadors to both countries, has not been finalised yet.
Speaking at news conference in the capital Ankara, AK Party spokesperson Omer Celik said both sides were working on a draft document to reach a final deal.
"An agreement has not been finalised yet. A deal has not been signed yet. We are working on a draft. There is no doubt that the Israeli state and its people are friends of Turkey. The criticism we have made so far has been about Israel's extreme behaviours that we don't deem as legitimate," Celik said.
Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary agreement to normalise relations, including the return of ambassadors to both countries, officials from both countries said earlier this week.
The deal was reached during a recent meeting in Switzerland between the incoming head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, Israeli envoy Joseph Ciechanover and Turkish foreign ministry under-secretary Feridun Sinirlioglu.
The once-strong Israel-Turkey alliance has soured dramatically under Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan, who heads the Islamist-rooted AK Party, reaching a low with the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound ship. Efforts to reconcile the countries, including a 2013 phone call between Erdogan and Netanyahu that was brokered by U.S. President Barack Obama, have yet to yield a final deal on restoring full diplomatic ties.
Ankara set precise conditions for normalising ties - an apology, compensation and Israel lifting its embargo on Gaza. Celik signalled a final agreement would depend on these conditions.
"Turkey has three precise conditions for normalising ties - an apology, compensation and the lifting of an embargo on Gaza. Our first condition is fulfilled but the remaining two have not been met yet. Therefore, our people should know we have no doubt that this draft will be shaped within these parameters," he said.
"A deal has not been signed yet. Talks will continue until an agreement is finalised. During this period, we will observe whether these three conditions are met or not. This will be our requirement," he added.
Under the preliminary agreement, Israel will establish a compensation fund to address the killing by Israeli marines of 10 Turks aboard a pro-Palestinian activist ship that tried to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010, the Israeli officials said. Turkey would then drop all claims against Israel.
The channel between Israel and Turkey, which borders Iraq, Iran and Syria, was long seen as a key element in U.S. policy in the region. With the rise of Islamic State and the complexities of relations with Iran, it retains importance for Washington.
With recent tensions between Turkey and Russia, Israeli officials say that Ankara has expressed new interest in importing natural gas from Israel.
According to the agreement reached in Switzerland, the official said, the countries will discuss the possibility of constructing a pipeline to supply Turkey with gas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None