U.S. admiral says Israel works to strengthen the ties with Turkey

WASHINGTON (A.A) - July 26, 2011 - Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, has said that he was reassured by the Israeli leadership that they're working to strengthen the ties with Turkey. 
Admiral Mullen replied to questions at a press briefing at Foreign Press Center in Washington on Monday.
When a reporter said, "Turkey is struggling with PKK since a long time, since the 30 years maybe, and that there's some expectations from U.S. government for this war – for this struggle, if they – they are based in northern Iraq, for example, and you are conducting an operation in northern Iraq. Is it possible to conduct a joint operation against PKK, or what kind of support can you give to Turkish government in terms of this struggle against PKK?" Adm. Mullen said, "when you asked the question about Turkish – the cooperation with the Turkish government, there's been a very long- standing set of support mechanisms vis-à-vis the second issue you asked about with respect to the PKK, and that kind of support is ongoing. It's something we address all the time with the Turkish military, as well as the Turkish government." 
Mullen said, "more broadly, we are engaged and cooperating across many issues of concern in the region. I mean, you mentioned one: Afghanistan. And quite frankly, Turkey's contributions in Afghanistan have been significant. There has – there is a long-standing cooperation with respect to the – where Iraq goes in the future. Certainly, Turkey has a great interest, for obvious reason, because it is a regional country and the United States, for its – because of, certainly, our commitment there over the last many years. With respect to the broader issues of regional stability, we're engaged with the Turkish government in many ways all the time, whether it's through NATO – you know, Turkey is a critical member of the – of the NATO alliance in that regard – or whether it's bilaterally with – between me and my counterpart, or in the – in the Department of State, clearly, and the foreign ministry there."
Adm. Mullen said, "so we've been allies and good friends for a long time. And I -- and part of that has been addressing a wide range of issues, and we continue to do that. And I'm comfortable in the relationship. It's critical. And we need to sustain it in the challenging environment in which we exist and I think will be in the -- exist, not just now, but in the future."
Replying to a question on relations between Turkey and Israel, Mullen said, "I was just in Israel last week on my way back from Afghanistan, after the visit to China, Korea and Japan, and I was reassured by the Israeli leadership that they're working to strengthen the ties with Turkey. That's a significant relationship that is long- standing."
Admiral Mullen said he thought the importance of the relationship, certainly, between Turkey and Israel, as well as the United States and Turkey and United States and Israel, was critical in that region.