ANKARA - National Infrastructure Minister Joseph Paritzky of Israel has said he invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Israel on behalf of the Israeli government.
Erdogan received Paritzky in the new Turkish Prime Ministry Office on Tuesday. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler and Turkish Zorlu Holding Board Chairman Nazif Zorlu were also in attendance at the meeting which lasted nearly one hour.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Paritzky said Erdogan had told him regarding invitation that he could send the Turkish Foreign Minister at first to Israel and later he could pay a visit when more tranquil and normal stage was reached. Noting that Erdogan and he had held a very good, clear and friendly meeting, Paritzky said that Erdogan had expressed his opinions and fears about the developments in the Middle East.
Stating that they had agreed to fight against terrorism wherever it was, Paritzky said that they had reached a consensus on Turkey's being an important mediator for incidents.
Stressing that Turkey was a modern, western and democratic country and at the same time it had close ties with Muslim countries, Paritzky said that Turkey would be a very good mediator for such problems and make friendship as a result of its close ties with both Israel and Arab world.
Asked what ''normal timing of visit'' was, Paritzky said it should be asked to Erdogan.
Recalled of today's Turkish Parliamentary General Assembly session on Israeli attacks, Paritzky said it would not harm Turkish-Israeli friendship.
Noting that also economic issues had come onto the agenda of his meeting with Erdogan, Paritzky added that they had also discussed the energy corridor between Turkey and Israel.
(MS) 25.05.2004