ISTANBUL, Feb 20 (KUNA) — Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces Gabi Ashkenazi sent a formal letter of apology, to his Turkish counterpart Ilker Basbug concerning provoking statements made by Israel’s Commander of the Land Forces Ari Mizrahi that critisise Turkey’s military involvement with the Kurds, Cyprus and Armenia, which caused anger amongst officials at Ankara.
Turkish daily Hurriyet quoted on its official website a military Turkish official as saying Friday that the Israeli chief of staff made a phone call four days ago to his Turkish counterpart informing him of his personal apology regarding the matter.
The Turkish Army official said that Ashkenazi had said that he was grateful and was extremely interested in relations between the two armies, also underlining that Mizrahi’s comments did not whatsoever represented the views of the Army and vowing he would take the required action.
Ashkenazi additionally dispatched an official letter to the Turkish chief of staff on Thursday, reiterating his vow and that he had taken out the required action.
Turkey had strongly rejected earlier statements by the Israeli commander in which he accused Turkey of occupying Northern Cyprus also deeming Turkey’s conflict with Kurds as “unacceptable.”