Turkey: There Is Not Any Change In Turkish - Israeli Relations

ANKARA - Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has stated, "there is not any change in structure and content of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel."
When asked about recent news stories in the Lebanese press claiming that Turkey had reviewed its relations with Israel and decided to cancel its defense industry projects with Israel, MFA spokesman Namik Tan said on Monday that Turkey-Israel relations had been continuing to serve interests of both countries and to contribute to efforts to provide peace in the region.
Noting that projects between Turkey and Israel in several fields had still been valid, Tan said, "our government's assessments about tenders in which many countries are interested, should not be connected with these projects."
Tan also recalled, "Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul held a beneficial meeting with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom during the mid-term Ministerial Meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in Irish capital Dublin between May 5 and 6, 2004."

(UK) 17.05.2004