Olmert: Israel Does Not Have Any Relation With Kurds In North Of Iraq

ANKARA - Israeli First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications, Labor, Industry and Trade Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that his country did not have any relation with Kurds in the north of Iraq.
Speaking to private tv channel CNN Turk, Olmert said that news stories which claimed that Israel was in cooperation with Kurds and trained Kurdish commandos in the north of Iraq were not true. He added that Israel did not have any relation with Kurds in the north of Iraq and Turkish authorities also knew all details.
Olmert stated that they did not work for interests of the United States, stressing that they wanted a single and united Iraq. Olmert noted that the United States and Turkey were friends of Israel, adding that they would never take any action against interests of Turkey.
Olmert underlined that every development about the Middle East that would occur in the future should take place by considering Turkey.
Noting that he could not have a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara due to a technical problem, Olmert said that Erdogan expected him to come to Turkey a day or a few days earlier than he was scheduled, but he could not come due to his own schedule. Olmert stated that Turkish President and Foreign Minister were holding meetings with him, thus he considered that he was not punished.
Replying to a question on Israel's suspending its flights to Turkey and Prime Minister Erdogan's speeches criticizing Israel's policies, Olmert said that Erdogan should be considered by all his performance when Turkish-Israeli relations were considered. Stating that Turkey and Israel had economic relations growing continuously, Olmert noted that relations between the two countries would further improve. Olmert stated that if he were Erdogan, he wouldn't criticize Israel.
Olmert stressed that Israel attached great importance to Turkey, stating that Israel wanted to carry on strategic relations with Turkey. He added that they expected Turkey to continue fulfilling commitments that it made to Israel.
Olmert noted that they would be glad to see Erdogan in Israel.
Olmert said that Turkey and Israel were on the same side against terrorism and fighting together, adding however the two countries had some disagreements on some issues.
(EÖ-AÖ) 14.07.2004