Baku, Azerbaijan, March 27
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The Turkish embassy will resume its offices in Israel after the Israeli government pays compensation amounting to $21 million in connection with the attack on the Turkish ship 'Mavi Marmara', the Turkish newspaper Sabah reported on March 27.
It will be possible for Turkey and Israel to sign the agreement on compensation after the municipal elections, scheduled for March 30 in Turkey.
The Israelis are expected to enable Turkey to deliver humanitarian goods to the Gaza Strip as part of the agreement on compensation.
Relations between the two countries seriously deteriorated after an Israeli special mission unit seized the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was part of the so-called 'Freedom Flotilla' moving into the blockaded Gaza Strip.
Nine Turkish activists were killed as a result of the attack. Israel insists that its servicemen acted in self-defence.
The Turkish Defence Ministry decided to abandon joint naval exercises with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in July 2010 after the incident with the Mavi Marmara.
Israel and Turkey recalled their ambassadors in September 2011.
Translated by NH
Edited by SM