The U.S. State Department attached importance to Turkey's role in the Middle East on the backdrop of the latest diplomatic row between Turkey and Israel, Anadolu reported.
"Turkey has played an important role as an intermediary in working through issues related to the Middle East, "U.S State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said at the news conference in Washington."The U.S. expects Ankara to continue this policy."
"Both Turkey and Israel are our important allies," he said. He was commenting on the recent diplomatic row between Turkey and Israel, which arose after Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister insulted the Turkish ambassador to Tel Aviv.
"Turkey is an important intermediary position in the settlement of the Middle East. We appreciate Turkey's role, which seeks to help the [regional] countries," he said.
In 2008, Turkey became the only mediator in indirect talks between Syria and Israel, which ended last winter because of the Israeli military operation in Gaza Strip.
