Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 21 2009

Israel says ‘sorry’ for top officer’s outburst

ANKARA – The Turkish military yesterday confirmed a phone call from
Israeli Chief of General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi to his counterpart
Ä°lker BaÅ?buÄ? to apologize for remarks made by a
top Israeli officer.

The Land Forces Commander Avi Mizrahi said last week Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an, who criticized Israel’s campaign in Gaza,
"should first look in the mirror," and accused Turkey of committing a
massacre of Armenians, as well as suppressing the Kurds.

Brig. Gen. Metin Gürak, spokesman for the military, said in a
weekly press conference Friday Ashkenazi phoned Chief of Staff General
BaÅ?buÄ? on Feb. 16 and sent an official letter
Thursday. In the telephone conservation, Ashkenazi said what the
commander said was his personal opinion and didn’t reflect the Israeli
Armed Forces’ official opinion.

Ashkenazi said he felt sorry for the incident and that he would deal
with the issue.

According to Israeli daily Jerusalem Post, Ashkenazi apologized in an
effort to prevent deterioration in military relations with Turkey.

Gürak also denied media reports about transfers of retired
generals, who have been arrested as part of the ongoing Ergenekon
case, to the military hospital Gülhane Military Medical
Academy, or GATA.

"Although all operations and procedures regarding the retired generals
have been carried out in line with the law and under the supervision
of Justice Ministry, the allegations leveled at the GATA, an
institution of the Turkish Armed Forces, are groundless and
ill-intentioned," Gürak said.

"Such campaigns carried out against the generals, who are currently
facing serious health problems, aren’t in line with the human values
and ethical rules," he said.