Turkish PM says soft diplomacy should not harm national interests

"I am not a diplomat but a politician. If diplomats harm the national interests with their soft diplomatic tone, then I do not want such diplomacy. My diplomats should be able to take their rights from the mouths of lions," Erdogan told at his Justice and Development Party's parliamentary group meeting.

Erdogan came under the spotlight both in Turkey and around the world after storming out of a Gaza session with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Davos last week when the debate moderator did not give him the floor to speak.

Erdogan's reaction garnered widespread public support but some former diplomats and experts criticized him for breaching the basic principles of diplomacy.

The Turkish prime minister defended his reaction, saying his behavior was in line with diplomatic approaches; otherwise he could have reacted differently.

"The moderator cannot put his hand on the shoulder of a prime minister. This is impertinence. If I wasn't diplomatic, then I should have done something else. But I didn't," he said.

The Davos crisis escalated the tension between Turkey and Israel, two regional and historic allies, but diplomats as well as top officials rushed in to ease the tension. The row is unlikely to have a direct impact on two countries' relations which are based on strong historic ties.

"TURKEY NEVER WAS OR WILL BE ANTI-SEMITIC"

Erdogan said his reaction should not be misinterpreted and criticizing the actions of the Israeli government is not the same as being anti-Semitic.

"There has never been anti-Semitism in the history of this country... The people of this country have never seen the Jews as enemies. I believe we will not see such approaches in the future," he added.

Both the prime minister and other officials are in constant contact with the leaders of the Jewish community in Turkey to listen to their concerns, he said, adding that around 23,000 Jews live in the country "as a minority who are the citizens".

He said a common conscience arose for the Middle East as it did for Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo and Georgia.

"This reaction honored everybody who is in favor of justice from Melbourne to Toronto... The summary of Turkey's reaction is being the conscience of humanity. Turkey has been the conscience of both humanity and the region," he added.

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