Turkish FM confirms talks with Israel

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu has confirmed ongoing talks with Israel aimed at reaching some form of rapprochement, while suggesting that undue emphasis should not be placed on the gatherings.

"Talks between two countries are very normal for the sake of the normalization of relations. How can reconciliation be achieved without holding any meetings?" Çavu?o?lu asked on June 24 when a group of board members of the Photojournalists' Association of Turkey (TFMD) raised the issue during a courtesy visit to the minister's office.

"Anyhow, these meetings are not new. Expert-level talks have been held between the two countries for a while," Çavu?o?lu said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlio?lu and his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold, conducted a secret meeting in Rome on June 22, news reports said this week.

Çavu?o?lu suggested that "the ball is in Israel's court" in regard to the normalization of bilateral ties since Ankara is still waiting for the fulfillment of its conditions for normalization: the lifting of the blockade on Gaza and the payment of compensation to the families of the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid in May 2010. 

Turkey's relations have been tense with Israel since nine Turks and one Turkish-American were killed, and several other pro-Palestinian activists were wounded when Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010, which was trying to break the blockade on Gaza. The relationship between the two countries has worsened since then, with both sides withdrawing their ambassadors and reducing their diplomatic representation in each other's capitals. 

"Agreement was ensured on one issue," Çavu?o?lu said, referring to the...