Israel, Turkey Ties `Warming,’ Says Army Chief
By Asbarez Staff
Mar 16th, 2010

ANKARA (Hurriyet)-Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi has
signaled that relations between his country and its once-close
regional ally Turkey are warming again after a period of tension.

`Our military relations are excellent and I believe that political
problems will soon be overcome,’ Ashkenazi told the Turkish press
Monday.

Ashkenazi, the first Israeli army chief to visit Turkey since 2005,
joined a NATO conference on terrorism and international cooperation
and held talks with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Ilker Basbug, and
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul.

`This was an important meeting and there is no need to emphasize
Turkey’s strategic significance and centrality, for many and diverse
reasons,’ Ashkenazi said in a statement released early Tuesday by the
Israel Defense Forces, or IDF.

Ashkenazi discussed bilateral military cooperation and shared his
vision about regional issues related to Iran, Syria and Lebanon, as
well as their ties with Hamas and Hezbollah. He also informed Basbug
about the IDF’s `Operation Cast Lead’ and the Second Lebanon War.

His one-day trip aimed to mend deteriorating ties with Ankara,
according to a report by Tel Aviv-based daily Haaretz.

`We have an interest in strengthening ties with Turkey and I have
noticed a similar Turkish desire. The cooperation between us will
continue,’ the IDF chief said.

Ashkenazi also placed a bouquet of flowers in the mausoleum honoring
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. He signed the
memorial book by writing in Hebrew: `On behalf of the Israeli Defense
Forces, it is an honor to commemorate the great leader Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk. He was a special leader and [is] still a role model with his
unique profile, vision, military capability and extreme devotion.’

A diplomatic row broke out in January that led Israel to apologize for
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s actions when summoning Turkish
Ambassador Oguz Celikkol over the anti-Israeli content of a TV series.
Ayalon deliberately humiliated the envoy by seating him on a lower
chair, saying to the press in Hebrew, `You see, their place is lower
than ours.’

Israel has since made overtures to repair ties with its closest ally
in the Muslim world.