Israel's Peretz in Turkey

Peter Lyukimson, Israel. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

The Minister of Environmental Control, Amir Peretz, has become the first member of Israeli government to officially visit Turkey since 2010, when the crisis in relations between two countries started.

Peretz came to Turkey to participate in the international conference on environmental defense of the Mediterranean Sea. As Amir Peretz was previously the minister of defense, the Israeli Premier’s office conducted a special meeting where the possibility that the Israeli guest could be accused of military crimes in Ankara was discussed.

However, contrary to Israeli’s fears, the minister was warmly welcomed in Turkey. A top official source in the Turkey Foreign Ministry stated that a visit by an Israeli minister was a good sign; and today there are conditions for improvement of relations between the countries. The official didn’t comment on what the conditions exactly were.

Speaking at the conference, Amir Peretz focused not only on the environment, but also two main problems which concern Israel: talks between the West and Iran and talks between Israel and the Palestinians. According to Peretz, the coming months will be crucial in both directions.

Then, Amir Peretz addressed the Minister of Ecology and Urban Development of Turkey, Erdogan Beiraktaru. “I hope that in the near future we will settle all our disputes; and citizens of Israel and citizens of Turkey expect this from their government,” Peretz said.

Israeli journalists pointed out that later Peretz discussed something with his Turkish colleague on the sidelines of the conference. However, he didn’t comment on details of the discussion, saying that he would report on them to Benjamin Netanyahu and the government first.

Economists state that trade relations between Israel and Turkey are developing successfully, and their turnover is growing.