ANKARA, Dec 20 (AFP) - Israel on Monday congratulated Turkey for the green light it received last week to start membership talks with the European Union.
"Israel congratulated the Turkish government and people on the European Councils decision to start accession talks," a statement released by the Israeli embassy here said.
"Israel sees in the EUs enlargement and Turkeys accession to the EU a contribution to strengthening regional stability, democracy, cooperation and socio-economic prosperity," the statement said.
Turkey has been Israel's chief regional ally since the two countries struck a military cooperation deal in 1996, much to the anger of Arab states and Iran.
Bilateral ties, however, have chilled since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party came to power in November 2002, often lashing out at the Jewish state for its heavy-handed policies against the Palestinians.
12/20/2004 13:25 GMT - AFP