Israel does not want Kurdish state in Iraq, Israeli envoy in Turkey says
Hurriyet website, Istanbul
19 Aug 05
Excerpt from report by Ipek Arioglu and Selcuk Senyuz: “We do not
want a Kurdish state” published by Turkish daily Hurriyet website on
19 August
Stating that they would act jointly with Turkey in northern Iraq,
Israel’s Ambassador Pinhas Avivi said: “If a Kurdish state is formed
in the north then a Shi’i state would be formed in the centre of Iraq,
and that we are opposed to.” Avivi also said that securing economic
support from Turkey in the Gaza Strip was important.
Stating they were definitely opposed to the formation of a Kurdish
state in northern Iraq, Israel’s Ambassador Pinhas Avivi said:
“I promise that nothing we are not coordinating with Turkey will
happen in the region. Israel will conduct all its activities in the
region by acting jointly with Turkey.”
Talking to Hurriyet Avivi gave the message that Israel would do nothing
in northern Iraq that went against Turkey’s interests. Avivi also
said allegations that Israel was backing the Kurds in the northern
Iraq were completely baseless, and that they had been fabricated by
the Iranian embassy.
We are opposed to Kurdish state
He continued: “I guarantee you that Israel is not acting against
Turkey’s interests in northern Iraq. If a Kurdish state is formed
in northen Iraq then a Shi’i state would be formed in central Iraq,
and that we are opposed to. Both Turkey and Israel are elements of
the region, and we both want stability. We want Iraq to be a unified,
Western and democratic country. Any development to the contrary would
affect both Turkey and Israel adversely.”
Turkish support for Gaza
“Israel’s evacuation of the Jewish settlements in Gaza is a positive
decision. It is important for ensuring that the economic gulf between
the two people’s living on that land is closed and for bringing about
peace. If the withdrawal from Gaza is a success and I Turkey and the
other regional countries provide economic support to the area and
terrorist activities come to a halt then peace is possible. Failing
that peace is not possible. We welcome Turkey’s promise of support
with the aim of contributing to the peace process. In this context
the Ankara Forum, which aims to bring together Israeli, Palestinian
and Turkish businessmen at the Turkish government’s initiative is
important.”
Armenian problem
“It is wrong to look for similarities between the so-called Armenian
genocide and the Jewish Holocaust. The Holocaust was a political
decision made with the aim of wiping a nation of the face of the
earth. I have great respect for the decision made by the Turkish
government and the Turkish people regarding the Armenian problem. We
believe that the matter should be debated by historians and not
politicians in order to expose the truth. Turkey has opened its
archives, and this is very important.”
Serving Turkey
“Israel supports Turkey’s EU bid. When my European friends ask,
“What will become of Europe when Turkey and its 70-million population
joins?” I ask them, “You should consider what might happen to the
world if Turkey remains outside the EU.” In every place where there
is an Israeli Embassy there are two embassies supporting Turkey’s EU
bid: the Turkish embassy and the Israeli embassy.”
[Passage omitted].