ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey will seek the backing of its Middle Eastern and Asian neighbours at a regional summit today to step up pressure on Israel over the killing of nine Turks on an aid ship bound for Gaza.

Israel has already rejected a United Nations call for an international inquiry into its seizure of the ship last week, but Turkey, flexing its diplomatic muscle as one of the biggest military and economic powers in the region, is not giving up.
“Whatever steps are necessary will be taken. Israel will have to pay the price for the martyrs, and will pay,” Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday. “We are patient and will continue this process with patience.”

Until recently, Turkey had largely avoided getting embroiled in conflicts in its eastern backyard as it pursued its goal of joining the European Union, but Erdogan’s strident criticism of Israel has made him a figurehead for those opposed to Israel’s embargo of Gaza.

Despite hosting the likes of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a sworn enemy of Israel and the United States, NATO-member Turkey still sees itself as a mediator in regional disputes and a bridge between east and west.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul urged Ahmadinejad yesterday to tell the international community his government was ready to cooperate and solve the dispute over its nuclear programme before a looming UN Security Council vote to impose tougher sanctions on Tehran.

“This opportunity cannot be lost,” a Turkish official quoted Gul as telling the Iranian president.

“We have to show the whole world that a diplomatic solution can yield results.”

The normally little noted Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) forum has taken on a new importance since the May 31 seizure of the Mavi Marmara as it attempted to break Israel’s blockade of the Gaza strip.

Erdogan is to have a breakfast meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today after meeting the presidents of Afghanistan, Iran and Syria yesterday.