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Ankara firm on apology, demands compensation from Israel
Turkey's stance on the issue has been clear right from the very beginning of the incident taking place, Davutoğlu first noted, upon being asked about news reports claiming that Israeli and Turkish diplomats meeting in New York were drafting a statement regarding the Mavi Marmara incident that would satisfy both sides.
“Israel slaughtered nine Turkish citizens, one of whom was a US citizen, in international waters,” Davutoğlu said, while speaking at a joint press conference following talks with Mahmoud Jebril, chairman of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), the Anatolia news agency reported.
“We said the same thing since last year. Israel must apologize and pay compensation for this issue,” he added.
Turkey's stance on the situation is “principle-based,” he said and continued: “Of course, there have been technical meetings at various levels and there will be more. Besides, Turkish and Israeli sides take place in the commission led by [Geoffrey] Palmer. Our stance on this issue is also clear. The compliance of the to-be-announced report with international legal norms is important for us.”
Davutoğlu also warned that “a stance that is in contradiction with the committee established by the United Nations Human Rights Council is not acceptable” for Turkey.
“We hope that Israel meets our demands we expect on this issue and that they are based on extremely justifiable foundations; then this crisis will be over,” he said, stressing that it was natural for Turkish and Israeli authorities to hold talks on the issue of fulfilling Turkey's demands and such talks should not be reflected as an extraordinary development.
The UN established an inquiry panel months after the incident at the beginning of August 2010. The panel consists of Palmer as the chairman, the former New Zealand prime minister and Vice Chairman Alvaro Uribe, the former Colombian president, Israel's Joseph Ciechanover and Turkey's Özdem Sanberk.
In New York, a spokesperson for the UN secretary-general said on Tuesday that more time was needed with regards to a report of the UN panel investigating the attack on the Mavi Marmara incident.
Spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters that more time was needed and that time had been given to the panel to prepare a final report.
“I don't think we are yet at the point where the report would be handed over. If and when that happens, obviously we would let you know. As a general point -- but don't read anything further into this -- the [UN] secretary-general doesn't necessarily have to be physically present for the report to be handed over, of course, although that is highly desirable. But on the first part, simply to say that the Secretary-General has made it clear that more time is needed; and when we get to the point we'll let you know,” Nesirky said.
Regarding some allegations that the language of the report could be toned down, Nesirky said he had not seen the report.
“But what I would say is what we said at the time; and that is that there is clearly a need for the parties concerned to find a consensus on the report, including the wording. And that's why more time has been given,” Nesirky also said.
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