American PBS TV hosts Erdogan

Speaking to the American PBS TV yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan answered Charlie Rose's questions. Answering a question whether it is totally impossible to establish normal relations with Israel, Erdogan said that unless Israel apologizes, pays compensation and lifts embargo on Gaza, normalization would be impossible. He added that those three conditions must be fulfilled. In a question whether he considers Israel's attacks as an act of war, Erdogan said, "If necessary, we will do that too." Answering a question whether Turkey has any intention to earn more esteem and popularity among Arab states behind its anti-Israel rhetoric, Erdogan said, "We aren't in pursuit of popularity, but we have to tell the truth." He added that although killing of nine Turkish citizens is actually an act of war, Turkey hasn't considered the issue this way, but acted patiently, because this is the requirement of being a great state. "I wonder if nine American citizens had been killed by any state in international waters, would it say that they have fortunately done that," he asked.