ANKARA, TURKEY - The Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made the announcement on Friday, saying “It's time Israel pays a price.”
Turkey has suspended all its military ties with Israel and has expelled Israel's envoy from Ankara over Tel Aviv's refusal to apologize for last year's deadly attack on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
The diplomatic ties will now be downgraded to the level of second secretary, AP reported.
"At this point the measures we are taking are: The relations between Turkey and Israel will be downgraded to second secretary level. All officials over the level of second secretary, primarily the ambassador will turn back to their country at the latest on Wednesday," Davutoglu said at a press conference on Friday.
Relations between Turkey and Israel began to deteriorate after the Israeli military attacked the Gaza-bound relief aid convoy Freedom Flotilla in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea in May 2010, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring at least 50 other activist that were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Source: Agency
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