BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday arrived in Turkey following the recent war of words between the two countries over the Sharon government’s bloody operations against Palestinians. Olmert is set to begin his meetings today in Ankara but will not be able to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan due to the premier’s busy schedule. I wonder whether this ‘appointment crisis’ really erupted due to Erdogan’s busy program or is it a result of his political stance?
Even if Olmert won’t meet with Erdogan, his visit is still important to Turkey, as he’s expected to have contacts with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and many other ministers.
In fact, Erdogan’s harsh criticisms of Israel shouldn’t be seen as the only factor in the recent chill between our countries. Erdogan isn’t the first Turkish premier to rebuke Israel’s attitude towards the Palestinians. Let’s not forget how a couple of years ago then Premier Bulent Ecevit accused Israelis of committing genocide in the Palestinian territories. However, such words can’t alter the course of Turkish-Israeli relations, because the principal factor setting this common path is the countries’ shared interests. The reason why our bilateral relations have strengthened significantly over the last 10 years is that both sides are well aware of their common interests in the region.
Therefore, I believe that it’s not the statements of both sides’ politicians but their actions regarding these common interests which will steer the course of Turkish-Israeli relations. In this context, the northern Iraq issue is key. Olmert’s words on this issue will be of great significance for the Erdogan administration, as both countries need to fine tune their stances to overcome this crisis. If necessary mechanisms are established and bilateral confidence restored, I believe that our countries will be able to sweep aside other factors threatening to damage relations.