Associated Press Worldstream
February 26, 2009 Thursday 10:55 AM GMT

US envoy: Turkey has unique role in Mideast peace

By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer

ANKARA Turkey

U.S. Middle East special envoy George Mitchell said Thursday that
predominantly Muslim Turkey’s friendship with Israel gives it a unique
opportunity to help achieve peace in the Middle East.

Mitchell’s remarks reflect the U.S. desire to see Turkey and Israel
maintain close relations despite a dispute between the two U.S. allies
after Turkey accused Israel of using excessive force in an offensive
against Hamas that took a heavy toll on Gaza’s civilians.

"As an important democratic nation with strong relations with Israel,
(Turkey) has a unique role to play and can have significant influence
on our efforts to promote comprehensive peace in the Middle East,"
Mitchell said after meeting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey has long been Israel’s closest ally in the Muslim world, and
has tried, along with Egypt and France, to mediate for peace in the
Middle East.

In January, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Erdogan
reprimanded Israeli President Shimon Peres over civilian casualties
during the Gaza war and walked out of a panel discussion.

This month, a senior Israeli general reportedly accused Turkey of
killing Armenians in 1915, and of oppressing Kurds and occupying
Cyprus. Turkey protested, and Israel’s military said the general’s
remarks did not reflect Israel’s official view.

"It is important for us now to look forward and to work together to
build a secure, prosperous future for all of the people of this
region," Mitchell said.

Turkey supports Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Western-backed
Fatah faction, but also advocates engagement with the militant group
Hamas, which has been shunned by Israel, the West and some Arab
nations. In 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in fighting that
drove out Fatah supporters.

Associated Press Writer Gulden Alp contributed to this report.