Turkish FM says new draft decree on appointing envoys 'ready,' includes Israel

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has stated that a new decree including the appointment of an ambassador to Tel Aviv is ready.

Wednesday September 14 2022 06:03 pm

Duvar English - Anadolu Agency

Amid Turkish and Israeli moves to normalize relations, the Turkish foreign minister on Sept. 14 said a new decree including the appointment of an ambassador to Tel Aviv is ready to be presented to the president.

Speaking to reporters in Ankara, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the decree not only includes Israel but rather is a comprehensive measure. He gave no names of possible ambassadors, Anadolu Agency reported.

The two regional powers had expelled ambassadors in 2018 over the killing of 60 Palestinians by Israeli forces during protests on the Gaza border against the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

The two countries have been taking steps to normalize ties, including a decision on Aug. 17 to restore full diplomatic relations and reappoint ambassadors and consuls general after a four-year hiatus.

A cooperation agreement was also signed between the two countries in the field of aviation. Currently, Turkish aviation companies can organize flights to Israel.

Çavuşoğlu further announced that he will travel to London next Monday as Turkey’s official representative at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Asked about the relations between Turkey and Armenia, Çavuşoğlu said Turkey will not proceed with the normalization process independently of Azerbaijan, and that Armenia knows it.

Asked about Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' remarks on Sept. 13, Çavuşoğlu said: "We do not think that we need to even comment on such remarks. We will decide when and where to go."

In a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mitsotakis said, citing an oft-repeated phrase by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "We are waiting for those who threaten to ‘come suddenly one night in our islands’ … (to come) in the light of day."

Affirming that there is no planned meeting with Greek officials or even any attempts for a possible meeting, Çavuşoğlu claimed Athens’ real trouble is that they are "disturbed over Turkey recently becoming a very important actor."