Israeli defense minister says relations with Turkey important

TEL AVIV (A.A) - July 5, 2011 - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that his country's relations with Turkey were very important.
Turkey continues to be the most important country in the region, added Barak during his Atzmaut Party's meeting on Monday.
Barak said that Turkey was one of the four key countries in the region, adding that Israel intended to settle its relations with Turkey on a straight platform.
Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's criticisms about Israeli siege on Gaza, Barak said that Israel started the siege because it did not have any other choices.
Stressing that Turkey was the most important country in the Middle East, Barak said that Israel intended to leave the past events behind and move forward.