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Turkey Denies Receiving Warning From US Over Israel, Iran Stance

   VOA News 18 August 2010
   President  Barack Obama shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
   Tayyip  Erdogan  in  the  Oval Office of the White House in Washington
   (File Photo - 07 Dec 2009)

Photo: AP

   President  Barack Obama shakes hands with Turkish Prime Minister Recep
   Tayyip  Erdogan  in  the  Oval Office of the White House in Washington
   (File Photo - 07 Dec 2009)

   Turkish officials are denying reports that U.S. President Barack Obama
   warned  Turkey  that  its  diplomatic  stance on Israel and Iran could
   affect U.S. arms sales to Ankara.

   Turkish media reported Wednesday that foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu
   said no country can issue warnings to Turkey.

   The  British newspaper Financial Times Sunday quoted an anonymous U.S.
   official  as  saying  Mr.  Obama  had personally warned Prime Minister
   Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

   The two leaders met at the G-20 summit in late June.

   A  White  House  spokesman  denied the report Monday saying he did not
   know where the statement originated.

   Deputy  press  secretary  Bill Burton said the two leaders have spoken
   about Iran and the recent Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

   Turkey says the two countries have strong ties.

   Top  Turkish  officials  will  visit Washington D.C. next week to hold
   talks on issues in the Middle East - including Israel and Iran.

   Relations  between  Israel  and  Turkey have been strained by Turkey's
   repeated  criticism  of  Israeli policies, and plummeted after Israeli
   marines  killed  nine  pro-Palestinian Turkish activists aboard an aid
   ship bound for Gaza in May.

   Turkey, along with Brazil, also has tried to resolve the international
   impasse over Iran's nuclear program.

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