ADL LEADERS DISCUSS ISRAEL-TURKEY RELATIONS WITH TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ANKARA
Targeted News Service
July 7, 2008 Monday 4:24 AM EST
JERUSALEM
The Anti-Defamation League issued the following news release:
In a series of meetings in Ankara, top Turkish government officials
and leaders of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) discussed a variety of
issues, including Turkey’s efforts to facilitate peace talks between
Israel and Syria, the close relationship between Turkey and Israel,
and strengthening relations between the United States and Turkey in
an effort to combat terrorism and extremism in the region.
In Turkey, Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman,
ADL National Director met with President Abdullah Gul, Enhanced
Coverage LinkingAbdullah Gul, -Search using: Biographies Plus News
News, Most Recent 60 Days Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, main
opposition Republican People’s Party leader Deniz Baykal and Deputy
Chief of Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun.
They also met with the foreign minister, minister of justice, interior
minister and education minister, as well as members of parliament
and the U.S. and Israeli ambassadors to Ankara.
Currently in Israel with delegation of senior ADL leaders, Mr. Lewy
and Mr. Foxman said: "We applaud Turkey for its efforts to facilitate
peace talks between Israel and Syria and for maintaining a close
relationship with Israel across the board.
"We appreciate Turkey’s role in communicating to Iran the seriousness
with which the West views its future possible nuclear capability. In
our meetings, we also expressed appreciation of the embrace and
support of the Jewish community and the frequent public condemnation
of anti-Semitism by President Gul, Enhanced Coverage LinkingPresident
Gul, -Search using: Biographies Plus News News, Most Recent 60 Days
both in Turkey and abroad. We also discussed the close U.S.-Turkey
relationship, especially in the effort to combat terrorism and
extremism in the region."
Regarding the Armenian issue, ADL urged Turkish officials to resolve
the matter in a proactive way between the government of Armenia and
the government of Turkey and to deal with alleviating the needs of
today’s Armenians as part of an effort to resolve the historic affair.
"My advice is that Turkey be creative and proactive in strengthening
the relationship with Armenia as a way to deal with the issue," said
Mr. Foxman. "That will bring about a coming together of history. I
suggested finding ways to work together that will help change the
atmosphere, because we have a concern today for the well-being of
Armenia. Armenia and Turkey need to solve this, not in a political
forum such as Congress or parliaments."
In Istanbul, the delegation met with Turkey’s chief rabbi, Jewish
community leaders, and the mayor before departing for Israel.