JERUSALEM: ISRAEL AND TURKEY CEMENT TIES IN WATER DEAL.

Record ID: 400738

  • Title: JERUSALEM: ISRAEL AND TURKEY CEMENT TIES IN WATER DEAL.
  • Date: 4th March 2004
  • Summary: (W5) JERUSALEM (MARCH 04, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE BETWEEN ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR-GENERAL YOAV BIRAN AND HIS TURKISH COUNTERPART UGAR ZIYAL 0.03 2. SIDE: PHOTOGRAPHER 0.11 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY DIRECTOR-GENERAL YOAV BIRAN SAYING: "I feel specially privileged to sign th
  • Embargoed: 19th March 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA6NIG956KDTJJO8485SHX83F0D
  • Story Text: Israel and Turkey cement ties in water deal.



    Israel and Turkey cement ties with water agreement
    signed between foreign ministry officials in Jerusalem on
    Thursday (March 4) paving way for further deals in region.

    Some 50 million cubic meters of water will be imported
    over from Turkey to Israel for the next 20 years, according
    to the agreement.

    For Turkey the agreement is in its national interest to
    pave the way for future agreements with other countries in
    the Middle East.

    Turkish Foreign Ministry official Ugar Ziyal expressed
    hope the agreement would last much longer than the 20 years
    duration of the contract.

    "It is a commitment by Turkey and Israel of the future
    of the relations. This is a vote of confidence in our
    relationship and I hope this will also would be a model to
    our region" Ziyal said.

    Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Yoav Biran
    signed the agreement with his Turkish counterpart Ugar
    Ziyal in Jerusalem during an annual Turkish-Israeli
    strategic dialogue.

    The Israeli finance ministry has questioned the economic
    rationale underlying the deal. Israel's Foreign Ministry
    says it is important to strengthen ties with its most
    important strategic ally.

    "This agreement is not merely of an economic nature
    rather it contains significant political, diplomatic and
    indeed strategic aspects, as well as of course the vary
    importance of bringing more water into the Middle East.

    Today Israel and Turkey are establishing a model which can
    contribute to the welfare not only of Israelis but of the
    entire Middle East region" Biran said during a joint
    presser with his Turkish counterpart in Jerusalem.




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