ISRAEL REITERATES GENERAL’S REMARKS PERSONAL IN DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO TURKEY

Hurriyet
Feb 23 2009
Turkey

Israel reiterated Monday in a diplomatic note it delivered to Turkey
that an Israeli general’s harsh remarks relating to Prime Minister
Tayyip Erdogan do not represent the official position of the Jewish
state.

The note issued in response to a Turkish diplomatic note concerning
the remarks made by Israeli Land Forces Commander Avi Mizrahi,
reiterated the position delivered in a statement made by an Israeli
army spokesman on Feb. 14, Israeli sources told Anatolian Agency.

In the note, Israel emphasized the importance of relations between
the two countries, the sources added.

Mizrahi said earlier this month that Erdogan, who severely criticized
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, "should first look in the mirror",
and accused Turkey of "committing a massacre of Armenians, as well
as suppression of the Kurds".

After Mizrahi’s remarks, Turkey summoned the Israeli ambassador
to the Foreign Ministry and handed a note of protest demanding
clarification, while the military denounced them as "excessive,
unfortunate and unacceptable".

The Israeli army chief telephoned his Turkish counterpart last week
to apologize for Mizrahi’s harsh remarks in an effort to prevent a
deterioration in military relations with Turkey. Israel’s Chief of
General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi also sent an official letter
to the Turkish General Staff regarding the issue.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress