Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Israel was guilty and it should compensate its crime, in comments on a recent statement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry about normalization of the strained relations between the two former allies.

"Turkey was not playing a diplomacy game and was not bluffing," Anadolu agency reported on Wednesday, quoting Davutoglu.

"Nobody should expect Turkey to take a step [forward] before Israel compensates its crime," Davutoglu said in his Tuesday televised speech.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, which were once two strategic and military allies, worsened after Israeli attacks on the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31, 2010. Nine Turkish activists fell victim of the clash between Israeli soldiers and international human rights activists on board the Turkish ship. Ankara demands an official apology and compensation for the families of the victims as well as the lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, in order to normalize the relations. Israel has rejected the demands, claiming its soldiers acted in self-defense. In protest to the Israeli refusal to meet Turkish demands, Ankara expelled Israel's ambassador and severed military ties with the country.

On Monday, Israel voiced its intention to come to the negotiating table with Turkey in a bid to improve bilateral relations.

On the same day Turkey's Foreign Ministry responded to the statement, saying Ankara's position on the issue is unchanged and Israel should take specific actions toward normalizing bilateral ties.

Recent media reports quoted a senior Israeli official as saying Israel was willing to discuss with Turkey the developments in Syria.

Turkey's statements as well as conditions to sit down at the negotiating table with Israel are clear, Davutoglu said, adding that an attempt had been made to create a psychological milieu against Turkey as if it was avoiding a meeting with Israel, but Israel was guilty and Turkey expected it to compensate its crime.

Turkey expects Israel to rectify its mistakes toward Ankara, only then one can talk about normalization of relations between the two countries, the Hurriyet newspaper quoted Davutoglu as saying Wednesday.

"Turkey is not avoiding normalization of relations with Israel. However, Israel should realize its mistakes and take steps to correct them," Davutoglu said.

He also noted that Israel is expressing its willingness to restore good relations with Turkey not only through media outlets, but also through the foreign ministers of some countries.

"Recently the foreign ministers of other countries have all been bringing messages from Israel saying it is ready to mend the relations, but Israel is trying to make Turkey look uncompromising as if it is continuously rejecting Israel," Davutoglu said.