January 12, 2010 - 15:49 AMT
Despite ostentatious hostility, Turkey and Israel maintain strategic partnership


Lebanese delegation headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri is on a visit to Ankara.

As Shahan Kandaharian, Editor-in-Chief of Beirut-based Aztag newspaper told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the Lebanese Premier met his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "The visit followed recent Turkey -Syria high-level meetings and decision on common strategy development. Earlier, official Ankara stated that Lebanon and Jordan should join the common strategic program," Shahan Kandaharian emphasized.

A number of bilateral agreements were signed during Hariri's visit to Ankara. Besides, the countries cancelled the visa regime, similarly to Turkey and Syria.

According to Shahan Kandaharian, rigid statements of Turkish Premier addressed to Israel are part of Ankara's policy, aimed at establishing closer relations with Arab states.

"Still, we mustn't forget that Despite ostentatious hostility, Turkey and Israel maintained strategic partnership," he noted.