ISRAELI PRESIDENT PERES RECEIVES TURKISH FM BABACAN

Turkish Press
Oct 8 2007

JERUSALEM – Israeli President Shimon Peres received Turkish Foreign
Minister Ali Babacan in Jerusalem on Sunday.

Babacan is currently in Israel within the scope of his Middle East
tour.

Minister Babacan invited Peres to Turkey on behalf of Turkish President
Abdullah Gul.

Babacan said that he is hoping to find an explanation for the operation
of Israeli warplanes within Syrian airspace on September 6th.

Upon a question about Turkey`s role in Israeli-Syrian peace,
Babacan said that Turkey has a close relationship with Israel and
other regional countries. He noted that dialogue and development of
relations will serve for peace.

When asked what Turkey expects from Israel over Anti Defamation
League`s (ADL) change of stance and its statements regarding Armenian
allegations on 1915 incidents, Babacan said, "Turkey opened its
archives for researchers to reveal the tragedy happened during the
World War I. However, Armenian side has not done the same thing yet."

"Turkey wants this issue to be solved through historians not votes
of parliamentarians. A joint commission shall work on it; and then
we are ready to accept the outcome of its research," Babacan stressed.

Noting that the statements of ADL created a very risky situation,
Babacan warned that these statements and its outcomes may deteriorate
Turkey`s relations with the United States as well as Israel.

On the same question, Peres said that ADL is an independent
institution. He added that Israel supports the view that the issue
should be solved through historians not politicians. He said that
Israel`s views did not change.

Babacan will meet Israeli Parliament Speaker Dalia Itzik and Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni today.