Compensation talks with Israel to start next week: Foreign minister

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will meet his US counterpart John Kerry in Istanbul on April 7. AA photo

Turkish and Israeli officials will start talks on compensation for the families of the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid next week, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said April 5. "One of our three conditions [for the normalization of ties], the apology, has been realized. There will be discussions on compensation and we are following continuously the lifting of the Gaza blockade. Particularly regarding compensation, there will be meetings between Turkey and Israel in the coming week and days," he said during a press conference with his Guinean counterpart, Lounceny Fall.

On U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit, Davutoğlu said several matters would be on the agenda. "While talking on the phone, we felt the need to have more detailed têtê-à-têtê discussions. [Kerry] is not coming for a single matter. But one of the principal topics is the peace process in the Middle East and the contributions that Turkey can make," he said. Syria, Cyprus, energy agreements with Iraq and Iran's nuclear program will also be dealt with, Davutoğlu added.