Turkish foreign minister rules out any cooperation with Israel

Ankara will not cooperate with Tel Aviv in any international body until it apologizes for the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said yesterday following Turkey’s veto of Israel’s participation at next month’s NATO summit, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

The minister made the remarks to reporters in the Central Anatolian province of Konya when asked about yesterday’s Hürriyet Daily News report which said Turkey had recently blocked Israel’s participation at the NATO summit in Chicago.

“It is out of the question for us to be together with Israel in any partnership activity in any international organization, not just NATO. We have already said that we have suspended such cooperation, except for forums such as the United Nations where all countries are members,” Davutoğlu said.

“There are certain conditions to be able to have the opportunity for partnership and cooperation. We believe that Israel has failed to meet those conditions. That’s not something that only concerns NATO,” he added.