Erdogan reiterates conditions for normalization of Israeli ties in Kiev

Speaking in Kiev after talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has reminded anyone interested in mediating peace with Israel of its three conditions: A formal apology for a deadly Israeli raid on May 31, 2010, on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, compensation for families of those killed in the raid and the lifting of the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. "Normalization is out of the question if any of these conditions are not met. If all these three conditions are met, then we would say 'yes' to mediators. Otherwise, mediators should spare the effort," he said. Erdogan also co-chaired a meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High Level Strategic Council together with Yanukovych. Addressing the gathering, Erdogan said Turkey and Ukraine planned to conclude a free trade deal by the end of the year, something that he said would significantly help efforts to increase bilateral trade.