ISRAEL REQUESTS TURKEY TO SEND ITS TROOPS TO SOUTHERN LEBANON

Yerkir
22.08.2006 13:12

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – On August 21, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
confirmed request during his meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul, which was expressed recently by Israeli Defense Minister
Amir Peretz to Turkish government, to send Turkish servicemen to
Lebanon in the framework of UNIFIL.

Emphasizing long-term friendly relations of his country with Turkey,
Mr. Olmert stated during the conversation that Israel would strive for
their development and strengthening as before. On the same day, the
Turkish foreign minister met with his Israeli colleague Tzipi Livni.

It is worth stressing that before the Turkish diplomat paid his visit
to Arab-Israeli conflict zone, Ankara stressed that it would consider
sending of its troops to southern Lebanon only after the UNO would
determine the peacekeepers’ authorities.

Also, it is worth stressing that Israeli leadership opposes against
participation of Malaysia and Indonesia, which expressed their wish to
send troops to Lebanon, in UN contingent. Instead of them, the Israelis
would like to see Turkish and Italian troops, Mr. Olmert stated.