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KERRY SAYS TURKEY CONSTRUCTIVE PLAYER IN REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS
Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 18 2013
US Secretary of State John Kerry has called Turkey a constructive
regional player in the Mideast peace process, the ongoing Syrian
crisis, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Cyprus issue.
"Turkey is committed to supporting the continuing peace process
in the Middle East as well as the Syrian crisis. Turkey is going
to host the next meeting of the Friends of Syria core group this
Saturday. Through regular talks held with Washington, Ankara is
assisting us on the settlement of the two frozen conflicts -- the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] and the
Cyprus issue. I think Turkey will be a constructive player on these
issues and we are looking forward to maintaining constructive ties
with Ankara," Kerry was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency
while answering questions posed by members of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.
While making his remarks about the 2014 Foreign Affairs Budget before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry also said he believes
that Turkish-Israeli relations will go forward without any further
interruption and added that he has a good working relationship
with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He also reminded the
committee members of the several meetings he has had with Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Asked to comment on the reconciliation process between Turkey and
Israel, two of the US's closest partners in the region, Kerry said
that a meeting scheduled to be held next week will be a step forward in
the strengthening of bilateral relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Kerry is set to visit Turkey this weekend, his third visit to the
country in two months, to attend the meeting of the core group of
the Friends of Syria.
Kerry also expressed his hopes for restoration of full diplomatic
relations between Israel and Turkey and urged the ambassadors of
both countries to return to their posts. "I am very hopeful that
both sides will be taking their relations forward without a hitch,"
Kerry was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
Following the bloody 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, when Israel refused to
comply with Turkish demands for an apology and compensation for the
victims of the attack and families of the dead, Turkey expelled the
Israeli ambassador and also recalled its ambassador to Israel.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
April 18 2013
US Secretary of State John Kerry has called Turkey a constructive
regional player in the Mideast peace process, the ongoing Syrian
crisis, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Cyprus issue.
"Turkey is committed to supporting the continuing peace process
in the Middle East as well as the Syrian crisis. Turkey is going
to host the next meeting of the Friends of Syria core group this
Saturday. Through regular talks held with Washington, Ankara is
assisting us on the settlement of the two frozen conflicts -- the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] and the
Cyprus issue. I think Turkey will be a constructive player on these
issues and we are looking forward to maintaining constructive ties
with Ankara," Kerry was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency
while answering questions posed by members of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday.
While making his remarks about the 2014 Foreign Affairs Budget before
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kerry also said he believes
that Turkish-Israeli relations will go forward without any further
interruption and added that he has a good working relationship
with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. He also reminded the
committee members of the several meetings he has had with Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Asked to comment on the reconciliation process between Turkey and
Israel, two of the US's closest partners in the region, Kerry said
that a meeting scheduled to be held next week will be a step forward in
the strengthening of bilateral relations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Kerry is set to visit Turkey this weekend, his third visit to the
country in two months, to attend the meeting of the core group of
the Friends of Syria.
Kerry also expressed his hopes for restoration of full diplomatic
relations between Israel and Turkey and urged the ambassadors of
both countries to return to their posts. "I am very hopeful that
both sides will be taking their relations forward without a hitch,"
Kerry was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency.
Following the bloody 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, when Israel refused to
comply with Turkish demands for an apology and compensation for the
victims of the attack and families of the dead, Turkey expelled the
Israeli ambassador and also recalled its ambassador to Israel.