Peres: Erdogan spat 'nothing personal'

Despite his public spat with Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the World Economic Forum over the Gaza fighting, President Shimon Peres said Friday that his relationship with the Turkish prime minister had always been good and remained so.Speaking to reporters in Davos, Peres said Turkey was an ally and an important country, both in the Middle East and the World. Peres said he spoke to Erdogan after the row in which the Turkish prime minister stormed off the stage."I called him up and said, 'I do not see the matter as personal,'" Peres said."My respect for him didn't change.We had an exchange of views-and the views are views."Erdogan said he left not because of a dispute with Peres, but because he was not given time to respond to the president's remarks. Erdogan also complained that Peres had 25 minutes while he was only given 12 minutes.The Prime Minister's Office said that during their phone conversation, the two leaders agreed not to let the incident affect their relationship and that they would continue to cooperate. The PMO said that Erdogan assured Peres that he wasn't angry with him, but with the organizers of the forum. The PMO denied Turkish media reports that Peres had apologized to Erdogan.Meanwhile, Erdogan received a hero's welcome upon his return to Istanbul as some 5,000 supporters waving Turkish and Palestinian flags flooded Istanbul's airport when his plane touched down before dawn.Some outside of the airport gate held banners that applauded his Palestinian stance in Davos. "The conqueror of Davos," one banner read. CNN television said extra buses were put on duty so more people could turn out to welcome him.In brief comments at the airport, Erdogan said he had been insulted. "My responsibility is to protect the honor of the Turkish nation."
By HERB KEINON, AP AND JPOST.COM STAFF
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As in the days of Noah....