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Davutoglu: No normalisation with Israel unless Gaza blockade lifted

September 2, 2014 at 12:05 pm

Turkey’s Prime Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu ruled out on the normalisation of relations with Israel unless the blockade on the Gaza Strip was lifted and aggression on the enclave was stopped, saying there was “no hope” unless this happened.

Davutoglu’s remarks came during a speech to the Turkish parliament in Ankara.

He pointed that he will seek to promote economic growth and continue Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union.

Davutoglu did not refer to any changes in policy pursued by his predecessor, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the past 11 years.

He said, “Turkey will be a new pioneering country” and he promised to make the country “freer, richer, and fairer and more prosperous”.

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the first directly elected president in Turkey and is expected to exert considerable influence on the government’s performance.

Davutoglu announced his new cabinet Friday where the majority of ministers from the previous government will retain their portfolios.

He said that Ankara will continue its support for the Syrian refugees as well as the peace process with the PKK rebels. He added that Turkey will continue its efforts to join the European Union, a project stalled last year after the Erdogan’s government repressed protests that erupted in several cities and the campaign it launched against the judiciary and the police based on their involvement in fabricating a corruption scandal against Erdogan.