Davutoğlu expresses unease about remarks by US spokesperson in phone call with Kerry

ANKARA

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu addresses the media in Ankara on July 3, 2014. REUTERS Photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by phone late July 22 on the issue of the Israeli offensive on Gaza Strip, sources from the Prime Ministry were quoted by Anadolu Agency as saying.

Calling for an immediate end to Israeli attacks on Gaza, Erdoğan underlined that the dispute cannot be resolved through military means.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also discussed the issue with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah late July 22.

Discussing the latest developments in the Palestinian enclave, as well as efforts aiming to reach a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian groups in Gaza, Davutoğlu told Kerry he was uneasy about State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki’s comments on Erdoğan’s strong-worded criticism of Israel, according to sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

In an interview with private broadcaster TGRT on July 20, Erdoğan said, “If America is still saying, ‘Israel is using its right to self-defense,’ then it should be critical of itself. It is America that is offensive.”

His remarks came in response to Psaki’s criticism on July 18 that, “The U.S. believes [Erdoğan’s] statements were offensive and wrong.”