Israel pres says spat with Erdogan should not affect Turkey ties

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Israel pres says spat with Erdogan should not affect Turkey ties
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Ocak 30, 2009 23:01

Israeli president said Friday he hoped relations with Turkey would not be affected by a heated exchange he had with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at the World Economic Forum. (UPDATED)

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"We don't want conflict with Turkey. We are in a conflict with the Palestinians," Peres was quoted by Reuters as telling reporters at the annual gathering of businessmen and political leaders in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.Â

 

"I don't see this as a personal or national problem. The relations can remain as they are. My respect (for him) hasn't changed. It was an exchange of views and views are views," the Israeli leader said. Â

 

Peres also said he hoped Turkey would continue to be a moderating force in the Middle East. "Turkey should be an answer to Iran ... they offer a choice to the Middle East. I hope they will continue to do it," he said.Â

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Peres said he had been prompted to speak in such a forceful way on Thursday because of the "ugly" picture painted of Israel by other speakers on the panel. "This was simply a misrepresentation of the nature of Israel," Reuters quoted him as saying.

 

The Israeli presidency denied on Friday that Peres apologized after Erdogan stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum during a spat over the Gaza war. Peres, himself, later said he hoped relations with Turkey would not be affected by the incident.

 

"This claim is untrue," presidency spokeswoman Ayelet Frish was quoted by AFP as saying. Turkey's state-run Anatolian Agency said Peres apologized after the two spoke for five minutes after the incident.

 

Frish did, however, confirm that Peres called Erdogan over the telephone and that the two had "a friendly conversation".

 

"During this conversation, the Turkish prime minister stressed his move was not against Peres but the president of the session," who had interrupted Erdogan, the spokesman said.

 

Erdogan had marched off the stage at the Davos meeting on Thursday complaining that his comments on Israel's recent war on the Gaza Strip were cut short.

 

PERES'S CALL RECORDED

Erdogan told a press conference in Istanbul after his arrival that the Israeli president called him and said "he is very sorry for this incident". The Turkish prime minister added the phone call was recorded.

 

"I am very sorry for what happened and friends could sometimes have an argument between themselves. I have always had a great respect for the Republic of Turkey and you as the prime minister," Peres told Erdogan, according to Anatolian Agency, citing diplomatic sources.

 

"I consider myself as a friend of Turkey and Premier Erdogan," Peres was also quoted by Israeli daily Haaretz as telling the prime minister.

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Broadcaster CNNTurk said Peres told Erdogan that Israel-Turkey relations are crucial and the he raised his voice, not because he was angered, but to be better heard.

 

 

 

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