TURKEY: Turkey demands an apology from Israel over the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid and calls on Damascus to end the bloodshed in Syria

Record ID: 395542

  • Title: TURKEY: Turkey demands an apology from Israel over the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid and calls on Damascus to end the bloodshed in Syria
  • Date: 18th August 2011
  • Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (AUGUST 17, 2011) (REUTERS) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SURROUNDED BY REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYING: "It's out of the question to take a step back on our determination. As long as Israel does not apologise, does not pay compensation and lifts the embargo on Palestin
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABNZNB3CF53CD5VUSFIZTQ50GG
  • Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday (August 17) it would be impossible for Turkish-Israeli ties to improve unless Israel apologised and paid compensation for the killing of nine Turks aboard a Gaza-bound ship.
    The Mavi Marmara was part of an activist flotilla bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza when it was boarded by Israeli marines on the Mediterranean high seas on May 31, 2010. The marines shot dead nine Turks, including a dual U.S. citizen, during fierce deck brawls.
    Erdogan said Turkey would not back down from its demand that Israel apologise.
    "It's out of the question to take a step back on our determination. As long as Israel does not apologise, does not pay compensation and lifts the embargo on Palestine, it's not possible for Turkey- Israeli ties to improve. From now on, we have several options for the future. The families (of the victims) will take some steps on this issue and we will also take those steps," he said.
    An Israeli official said earlier on Wednesday Israel would stick to its refusal to apologise to Turkey, dampening any prospects for reconciliation between the former allies.
    Erdogan also expressed his deepening concern over the ongoing unrest in Syria and the government's response to it.
    "I have sent the Turkish Foreign Minister to Syria and I myself have personally had a long phone conversation with him (Assad). One night, three days ago, I talked to Assad on the phone, but despite everything, they continue to shoot civilians and if it continues like this, if military operations still continue, if operations don't stop, as a country sharing a 9-10 kilometre border with Syria, we will have something to say," the Turkish premier said.
    Turkey's Foreign Minister also made a fresh call on Wednesday for Syria to halt military operations in a crackdown on widespread demonstrations calling for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad.
    Turkish leaders, who once backed Assad, are sounding increasingly frustrated at the Syrian leader's fierce crackdown on demonstrators demanding an end to his 11 years in power.
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