PIC
[ 09/12/2009 - 08:35 PM ]
ISTANBUL, (PIC)-- Turkish premier Recep Erdogan warned that his country would strongly respond if Israel violated its airspace, saying that this retaliation would be like an “earthquake.”
Erdogan’s remarks were a reply to a question in an interview with Egyptian journalist Fahmi Huwaidi, over the accuracy of information indicating that Israel had violated Turkish airspace in order to spy against Iran, the thing which angered Turkey and made it reject Israel’s participation in joint military drills.
Erdogan continued, saying that this information is incorrect, but he stated that, “if Israel did so, it will receive a response equal to that of an earthquake.”
He also said it was not reasonable that Israel went to Gaza and “swept” its people and later had the audacity to believe that they would still be allowed to train with Turkish defense forces after they wrought havoc on the Gaza Strip.
“We, the elected government, came into being due to the will of our people. We cannot then challenge the feelings of the Turkish people, who were greatly affected by what happened during the aggression on Gaza. Our respect for the feelings of the Turkish people played a decisive role in the background of our decision in refusing to conduct the drills of Anatolian Eagle,” the Turkish premier underlined.
“Furthermore, the Israeli’s cannot use the relationship they have with us as a card to wage aggression on a third party and expect us to stand neutral or with folded hands,” the premier added.
Erdogan: Israel Can't Use Turkey to Wage Aggression on 3rd Party
10/12/2009 If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara's reaction would resemble an "earthquake," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview with Egyptian journalist Fahmi Huwaidi published Thursday morning.
Responding to a question concerning rumors that Israel had entered Turkey's airspace for espionage purposes, Erdogan said that such a thing had never happened, but that the consequences would be dire if it did.
"[Israel] will receive a response equal to that of an earthquake," he cautioned, urging Israel's leaders to refrain from "using the relationship they have with [Turkey] as a card to wage aggression on a third party."
Ankara would not be a neutral party and stand aside with its arms folded, he said.
Erdogan also alluded during the interview to last winter's Israeli occupation army Operation Cast Lead, saying that Israel could not reasonably have expected to participate in a joint military drill with Turkey after "sweeping" the people of Gaza.
He stressed that the Turkish government's policy on Israel was both derived from and backed by the country's voting public. "We cannot challenge the feelings of the Turkish people, who were greatly affected by what happened during the aggression on Gaza," he said.
During that aggression, Israel killed over 1400 Palestinians, including 420 children and injured more than 5300 others.
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