ANKARA - Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Pinhas Avivi has said that he felt safe in Istanbul.
Avivi and an accompanying delegation paid on Wednesday a courtesy visit to Anadolu Agency (A.A) Director General and President of Executive Board Dr. Hilmi Bengi.
Ambassador Avivi said that news stories which said that Israel made a travel warning advising their citizens not to go to Istanbul stemmed from a misunderstood unofficial information given by a member of prime ministry staff.
Noting that Israeli foreign ministry asked their view before such a story was published in Israeli press, Avivi said they informed the ministry that there was not a security problem in Istanbul.
Avivi underlined that the news story published in Israeli press was not an official statement of the foreign ministry.
Noting that a crowded delegation including businessmen headed by Israeli Industry and Trade Minister would hold meetings in Ankara and Istanbul in the coming weeks, Avivi stated that he would also go to Istanbul next week. He added that he felt safe in Istanbul.
(EÖ-AÖ) 24.03.2004