Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.8 / Trend,V. Zhavoronkova /
Turkish and Israeli relations were one of the most promising strategic factors of the Middle East region for many years and we hope very much that they will return to their normal state of being such as they were, the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Matthew Bryza told journalists on Saturday.
Bryza said Azerbaijan as a fully independent country and a closed friend of the United State has also been a powerful and strong friend of Israel. "And that is something Washington supports very deeply," he said.
According to Bryza, Azerbaijan has made clear its stance with Israel as not only a strategic partner but as a friend.
"I try to do everything I can to strengthen our trilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan, Israel and frankly with Turkey," he said.
Bryza believes all three countries share profound interest. "Personally I am committed in doing everything possible to strengthen their ties," he added.
Relations between Turkey and Israel -- two strategic and military partners -- worsened after Israeli naval attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom" carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31. Nine Turks fell victim to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and international human rights activists on the Turkish ship.
Ankara later demanded that Israel issue an official apology, order an independent international investigation, and pay compensation. However, Tel Aviv stated that it will not apologize. The diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel passed on the secondary level. Moreover, Ankara has frozen its military cooperation with Tel Aviv and recalled its ambassador.
Edited by S. Dadashova