Turkey seeks warmer Israeli ties under Sharon

ANKARA — Turkey has expressed its intention to work with Israeli Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon.

The message was relayed to Sharon by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Ecevit congratulated Sharon for winning the elections last week. Sharon trounced incumbent Prime Minister Ehud Barak by 25 percentage points.

Ecevit wished Sharon success in forming a new Israeli government. The Turkish prime minister said he hoped that Israeli-Turkish relations would improve under Sharon's tenure.

"I hope we will work together to improve the Turkish-Israeli relations during your term in office." Ecevit said. "I also hope your government will contribute to the Middle East peace process."

Ankara was said to have been dismayed by Barak's policy, which appeared to downgrade Israeli relations with Turkey to focus on the United States. Turkish officials said they hope Ankara's strategic alliance with Israel will be strengthened under Sharon.

This would include the bolstering of defense and economic ties. On Wednesday, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz leaves for a three-day visit to Turkey. Mofaz will discuss with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, defense cooperation as well as regional threats from Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Mofaz is also expected to urge Turkish military leaders to choose Israeli firms for Turkish defense projects. Israel and Turkey are said to be near completion of an agreement for a $200 million upgrade of the M-60 tank.

In Istanbul, Turkish and Israeli executives have met to discuss joint projects in the Muslim republics of the former Soviet Union.

Israel and Turkey have been cooperating in such countries as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan for nearly a decade. "It is possible to cooperate with Israeli firms in Central Asia in light of the experience Turkish firms have gained," Turkish Eurasia Business Council chairman Tugrul Erkin said.