Europe

Europe

Turkey declares Israeli ambassador â€œpersona non grataâ€ and suspends all military agreements with Israel

02 September 2011 13:21 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Turkey-Israeli relations entered next phase of tensions. A United Nations panel finished investigation of Israeli attack on Mavi Marmara aid flotilla off the coast of Gaza and is due to release report on the issue. The report was published by the US newspapers. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey was taking action due to Israel’s failure to apologize for the deaths. "Israel’s government is responsible for the point that we have reached today. Unless necessary steps are taken, it won’t be possible to return from this point," Mr. Davutoglu said in a televised statement.
"Relations between Turkey and Israel will be downgraded to second-secretary level. All officials over the level of second secretary, primarily the ambassador, will turn back to their country at the latest on Wednesdayâ€, said Davutoglu.
The announcement followed a press conference, in which Davutoglu said that some of the UN’s report findings on the raid were â€œunacceptableâ€, adding that â€œit was time for Israel to pay the price. The highest price it can pay is losing of our friendshipâ€.
â€œIsrael, in fact, has misused many of the chances that were given to them and the Israeli government, on the other hand, see themselves (as being) above international laws and human conscienceâ€, Turkish foreign minister said.
Davutoglu announced the Turkish governmentâ€™s decisions concerning the relations with Israel:
1. Relations between Turkey and Israel will be downgraded to second-secretary level. All officials over the level of second secretary, primarily the ambassador, will turn back to their country at the latest on Wednesday.
2. All military agreements with Israel are suspended.
3. Turkey, as the country which has longest coast on the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, will take all necessary measures concerning free navigation in the area.
4. Turkey doesnâ€™t recognize Israelâ€™s embargo against Gaza. Turkey will raise this issue on the international level.