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| The Grand Turk |
| Turkey heaps pressure on Israel over Gaza |
| 2010-06-08 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Muslim leaders rallied round Turkey at a regional summit on Monday, backing their host's call for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza immediately and face international punishment for its deadly raid on an aid ship. Israel's storming of the Turkish ship and killing of nine Turks a week ago has loomed over the Eurasian and Middle East security talks in Istanbul, which began on Monday and will move to a full summit on Tuesday. "The time has come to lift the embargo on Gaza," Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a joint news conference with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. "We don't want an open air prison in the world any more." Once close allies, Israel and Turkey's relations have been on a downward spiral since Erdogan began championing the Palestinian cause after an Israeli offensive in Gaza in 2008. The Turkish leader has said Israel would have to pay for killing Turks in the botched commando raid. "Israel has to pay the bill for the blood that has been shed by the martyrs," said Erdogan, who has become a folk hero in the Middle East for his attacks on Israel. The Syrian leader pledged to support Turkey in action and words in its campaign for an end to the blockade. "I would like to say Turkish blood is not different from Arab blood," Assad said. "Our blood is one, and this combination will eliminate the blockade of Gaza." Turkey received messages from support from other Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and, of course, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. "Pakistan condemned in the strongest possible terms the unjustified aggression shown towards the freedom flotilla," Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said. "We stand by you." It is doubtful whether the final declaration by the Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) forum will contain a condemnation of Israel, as the wording has to be reached by consensus, and Israel is a member. Though it decided against exposing any senior official to Turkey's fury at an international forum, Israel was represented by its consulate-general. CICA includes a diverse group of 20 countries, but many other countries' leaders, like Assad, have come as guests. While not expecting much from CICA, Turkey is using the chance to gather diplomatic support against Israel. On Wednesday, Arab League foreign ministers are due to meet in Istanbul for talks with their Turkish counterpart. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Too bad noone ever had to write an environmental impact statement on giving Saudi Arabia and Iran enough money to buy turkish elections. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2010-06-08 17:44 |
| #2 Turkish medium and long range Surface to Surface missile systems incl: M-270 MLRS, T-300 Kasirga, WS-1 MBRLS, Chinese made long range artillery rockets in Gokceada (Imbros) Island, WS-1B, WS-2, SAGE 227, SAGE 227F PARS, SAGE 230A (TOROS 230A) & SAGE 260A (TOROS 260A) |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-06-08 17:22 |
| #1 TOPIX/WORLD NEWS > IRAN TO SEND AID SHIPS TO GAZA + IRAN TO CHALLENGE ISRAEL WITH NEW AID FLOTILLA. * WMF > "EAST TURKESTAN MOVEMENT" SUPPORTERS: WE ARE GRATEFUL TO ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES FOR ATTACK ON GAZA AID FLOTILLA. * SAME WMF > TURKEY SLOWLY TURNING INTO A BASE/HOST FOR MIDDLE EAST [e.g. Hamas] AND CENTRAL ASIAN ISLAMIST EXTREMIST GROUPS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-06-08 02:49 |