Turkish FM denies allegations on leaving U.S. for Iran

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey's consultative channels with the United States were open. Davutoglu appeared at a television program broadcast by a private channel.

When reporter reminded him of some claims that "Turkey left the United States and it is with Iran now", Davutoglu said such words showed importance of Turkey.

The relationship between Iran and Turkey dated back to the days of Ottoman Empire and relations between the United States and Turkey dated back to 1790, he said.

During the period of Tehran agreement, Turkey did not deceive anybody and Turkey complied with resolutions of the UN Security Council, he said. Davutoglu said they held phone conversations with U.S. officials recently and consultative channels were open.

"We will hold talks in New York next week. We don't have any problem regarding foreign policy coordination with the United States," he said.

Replying to a question on Turkey's relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, Davutoglu said that Turkey and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on establishment of High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council and the two countries had sound friendly ties. Davutoglu said they aimed to boost good relations with Armenia, as Turkey did with its neighbors. Foreign Minister Davutoglu said that he believed that peace would be secured in Caucasus.

Answering a question on the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) verdict on Turkish journalist of Armenian origin Hrant Dink case, Davutoglu said there were two warnings for Turkey in the verdict noting that one of them was about freedom of expression and the other was that Turkey failed to protect life of a citizen.

"We made self-criticism on the matter. We made some decisions in the trilateral commission meeting with justice and interior ministers. We should make progress on freedom of expression," he said.

Davutoglu said that the government was ready to take steps on the matter. Answering a question on relations with Israel, Davutoglu said that Turkey hoped that peace would be settled in the Middle East. Regarding Israeli raid on an aid flotilla, Davutoglu said they would always defend rights of Turkish citizens and Turkey assumed an attitude within the scope of the international law.


/World Bulletin/