ID :
130718
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 20:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/130718
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HIGH TIME TO FIND A FAIR, VIABLE & COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT, SAHIN
DAMASCUS (A.A) - 30.06.2010 - Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin said Wednesday it was high time to find a fair, viable and comprehensive solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict, an issue that lays at the foundation of all problems in the Middle East.
An extraordinary conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC-PA) began in Damascus, Syria regarding the blockade in Gaza.
Speaking at the conference, Sahin said that they convened together on Wednesday to handle the "grave" incidents that took place recently regarding Gaza.
Israel's attack on ships carrying aid materials to Gaza on May 31 was a "black mark" in the history of humanity. Israel killed eight Turkish citizens and an American of Turkish origin and wounded dozens of others in an attack on the aid ships, Sahin noted.
With its attack, Israel did not merely kill nine civilians but violated the most basic values of international laws and showed once again that it does not recognize rights or laws, Sahin stressed.
Not only Israel but the whole international community is now going through a serious test following Israel's brutality, Sahin said.
For long years, Turkey has stated that the problems in the Middle East were interrelated. A problem in a corner of the region triggered problems and clashes in an other corner. As such, we have to approach solving problems in the Middle East from a wholistic perspective, Sahin said.
The time has come to find a just, viable and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, a conflict that lies at the base of all problems in the Middle East, Sahin said.
The Israeli-Palestinian disagreement is the primary reason for not having an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and stability in the region for decades. This obstacle can be overcome not through road maps but by focusing on the end of the road. Unfortunately, the problems in the region get more complex every day. It is crucial for us to utilize our energy to find a just, permanent and comprehensive solution. As statesmen, our duty is not merely to work to fulfill the needs of today. We are obligated to implement a long-term vision to secure the future of next generations. Based on such an understanding, we need to support the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Palestine, Sahin said.
We look at the case of the tyrannized Palestinian people as our own case. We wish to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, within the boundaries of 1967 and the establishment of an independent, free and viable Palestinian state whose capital is Eastern Jerusalem, Sahin said.
Turkey will not hesitate from extending all support to the Palestinians in their efforts to establish their own state. We will continue to bring to the attention of all platforms Israel's inhumane blockade in Gaza, Sahin stressed.
Security in the 21st century can be facilitated by helping individuals reach an honorable living standard and not by walls, wires or check points, Sahin said.
The blockade in Gaza negatively affects the lives of innocent civilians. More than half of the 1.5 million people living in Gaza are under the age of 20 and unemployment and poverty have reached peak levels in Gaza, Sahin said.
I must express with sadness that the lives lost in Israel's attack on May 31 made it possible to understand certain realities that were disregarded by the international community for long years. This Israeli attack has been an important turning point not only for Gaza but for the whole region. We have to make use of the opportunity that this calamity has created, Sahin said.
Values such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, accountability and transparency must be valid for all peoples. We should no longer remain silent against acts that violate the international laws and hurt our conscience in our region. The reactions following Israel's attack showed that no blockade can continue forever. It is high time for Israel to face the realities, Sahin stressed.
Turkey reacted harshly to Israel's attack on the aid flotilla on May 31. Turkey immediately began efforts in order to have the Israeli attack be condemned by other countries and international organizations, Sahin underlined.
Within such a framework, three countries recalled their ambassadors in Israel or suspended diplomatic relations. Furthermore, 117 countries either criticized or condemned the Israeli attack. The parliaments of 23 countries published declarations condemning the Israeli attack. All political parties represented in the Turkish Parliament issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israel's attack, Sahin said.
On the day of the Israeli attack, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a call on the UN Security Council to convene in an emergency session and delivered a speech strongly condemning Israel's use of force, Sahin said.
Following the Security Council meeting, a statement was issued condemning Israel's attack, Sahin said.
Likewise, upon Turkey's efforts, the UN Human Rights Council convened in an emergency session on June 1 and, at the end of the meeting, Israel's attack was strongly condemned, Sahin said.
Turkey accepted a proposal by the UN Secretary General to establish an international investigation commission to study Israel's attack on aid ships, Sahin said.
Despite such developments, Israel has refrained from showing similar courage and saw as sufficient the establishment of a national commission to study the incidents of May 31. There is no doubt that in a fair case the same person can not be both the suspect and the judge. It is the international community's expectation to see Israel accept the international commission as proposed by the UN Secretary General. Also upon Turkey's efforts, the NATO Council handled Israel's attack on June 1. At the end of the meeting, the NATO Secretary General issued a statement expressing sadness over the loss of lives in Israel's attack and condemned the use of force that led to the deaths of nine people, Sahin said.
On June 6, the OIC's Executive Committee convened in Jeddah upon Turkey's efforts and all OIC member states strongly condemned Israel's attack, Sahin said.
In the third meeting of the Turkish-Arabic Forum Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Istanbul on June 9, all of the representatives strongly condemned the Israeli attack, Sahin said.
On June 16, the European Parliament took a decision strongly criticizing the Israeli attack of May 31, Sahin said.
Following the Israeli attack, Turkey immediately cancelled all planned military exercises and tenders of energy projects. Turkey expects Israel to admit its guilt, apologize and pay compensation to the families of the killed and those individuals wounded, Sahin stressed.
We expect the brotherly countries of the OIC to extend full support to Turkey in various international platforms, Sahin said.
Our solidarity displayed against injustice will send a strong message to the whole world, Sahin said.
Israel's decision to lighten the blockade in Gaza, one that continues for the past 35 months, will not solve the problem. The blockade in Gaza must end completely as it is a threat to regional peace and stability, Sahin said.
It is highly important for us speakers of parliaments to indicate that we are with the people of Gaza and that a solid step for regional stability can not be taken unless the blockade in Gaza ends completely, Sahin said.
Similarly, it is our responsibility to do away with the division in Palestine at a time when the Palestinians are suffering enormous pain and at a time when they have to deal with their problem on their own, Sahin said.
It is crucial to end the division in Palestine. As the Islamic world, we have to extend a hand of help to our Palestinian brothers and sisters, Sahin said.
Turkey is ready to extend all assistance in this regard. In a region dominated by members of the OIC, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) faces a blockade similar to the one in Gaza. We expect the Islamic world to display the same solidarity on the tyrannized people of the TRNC, Sahin said.
It is important to resolve problems through dialogue and mutual understanding. The sides must respect international laws and mutual rights. As Turkey, we want peace, stability and welfare in the Middle East. We will continue to make efforts to help our Palestinian brothers and sisters overcome the difficult conditions they live under, Sahin also said.
An extraordinary conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC-PA) began in Damascus, Syria regarding the blockade in Gaza.
Speaking at the conference, Sahin said that they convened together on Wednesday to handle the "grave" incidents that took place recently regarding Gaza.
Israel's attack on ships carrying aid materials to Gaza on May 31 was a "black mark" in the history of humanity. Israel killed eight Turkish citizens and an American of Turkish origin and wounded dozens of others in an attack on the aid ships, Sahin noted.
With its attack, Israel did not merely kill nine civilians but violated the most basic values of international laws and showed once again that it does not recognize rights or laws, Sahin stressed.
Not only Israel but the whole international community is now going through a serious test following Israel's brutality, Sahin said.
For long years, Turkey has stated that the problems in the Middle East were interrelated. A problem in a corner of the region triggered problems and clashes in an other corner. As such, we have to approach solving problems in the Middle East from a wholistic perspective, Sahin said.
The time has come to find a just, viable and comprehensive solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, a conflict that lies at the base of all problems in the Middle East, Sahin said.
The Israeli-Palestinian disagreement is the primary reason for not having an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and stability in the region for decades. This obstacle can be overcome not through road maps but by focusing on the end of the road. Unfortunately, the problems in the region get more complex every day. It is crucial for us to utilize our energy to find a just, permanent and comprehensive solution. As statesmen, our duty is not merely to work to fulfill the needs of today. We are obligated to implement a long-term vision to secure the future of next generations. Based on such an understanding, we need to support the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Palestine, Sahin said.
We look at the case of the tyrannized Palestinian people as our own case. We wish to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, within the boundaries of 1967 and the establishment of an independent, free and viable Palestinian state whose capital is Eastern Jerusalem, Sahin said.
Turkey will not hesitate from extending all support to the Palestinians in their efforts to establish their own state. We will continue to bring to the attention of all platforms Israel's inhumane blockade in Gaza, Sahin stressed.
Security in the 21st century can be facilitated by helping individuals reach an honorable living standard and not by walls, wires or check points, Sahin said.
The blockade in Gaza negatively affects the lives of innocent civilians. More than half of the 1.5 million people living in Gaza are under the age of 20 and unemployment and poverty have reached peak levels in Gaza, Sahin said.
I must express with sadness that the lives lost in Israel's attack on May 31 made it possible to understand certain realities that were disregarded by the international community for long years. This Israeli attack has been an important turning point not only for Gaza but for the whole region. We have to make use of the opportunity that this calamity has created, Sahin said.
Values such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, accountability and transparency must be valid for all peoples. We should no longer remain silent against acts that violate the international laws and hurt our conscience in our region. The reactions following Israel's attack showed that no blockade can continue forever. It is high time for Israel to face the realities, Sahin stressed.
Turkey reacted harshly to Israel's attack on the aid flotilla on May 31. Turkey immediately began efforts in order to have the Israeli attack be condemned by other countries and international organizations, Sahin underlined.
Within such a framework, three countries recalled their ambassadors in Israel or suspended diplomatic relations. Furthermore, 117 countries either criticized or condemned the Israeli attack. The parliaments of 23 countries published declarations condemning the Israeli attack. All political parties represented in the Turkish Parliament issued a joint statement strongly condemning Israel's attack, Sahin said.
On the day of the Israeli attack, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a call on the UN Security Council to convene in an emergency session and delivered a speech strongly condemning Israel's use of force, Sahin said.
Following the Security Council meeting, a statement was issued condemning Israel's attack, Sahin said.
Likewise, upon Turkey's efforts, the UN Human Rights Council convened in an emergency session on June 1 and, at the end of the meeting, Israel's attack was strongly condemned, Sahin said.
Turkey accepted a proposal by the UN Secretary General to establish an international investigation commission to study Israel's attack on aid ships, Sahin said.
Despite such developments, Israel has refrained from showing similar courage and saw as sufficient the establishment of a national commission to study the incidents of May 31. There is no doubt that in a fair case the same person can not be both the suspect and the judge. It is the international community's expectation to see Israel accept the international commission as proposed by the UN Secretary General. Also upon Turkey's efforts, the NATO Council handled Israel's attack on June 1. At the end of the meeting, the NATO Secretary General issued a statement expressing sadness over the loss of lives in Israel's attack and condemned the use of force that led to the deaths of nine people, Sahin said.
On June 6, the OIC's Executive Committee convened in Jeddah upon Turkey's efforts and all OIC member states strongly condemned Israel's attack, Sahin said.
In the third meeting of the Turkish-Arabic Forum Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Istanbul on June 9, all of the representatives strongly condemned the Israeli attack, Sahin said.
On June 16, the European Parliament took a decision strongly criticizing the Israeli attack of May 31, Sahin said.
Following the Israeli attack, Turkey immediately cancelled all planned military exercises and tenders of energy projects. Turkey expects Israel to admit its guilt, apologize and pay compensation to the families of the killed and those individuals wounded, Sahin stressed.
We expect the brotherly countries of the OIC to extend full support to Turkey in various international platforms, Sahin said.
Our solidarity displayed against injustice will send a strong message to the whole world, Sahin said.
Israel's decision to lighten the blockade in Gaza, one that continues for the past 35 months, will not solve the problem. The blockade in Gaza must end completely as it is a threat to regional peace and stability, Sahin said.
It is highly important for us speakers of parliaments to indicate that we are with the people of Gaza and that a solid step for regional stability can not be taken unless the blockade in Gaza ends completely, Sahin said.
Similarly, it is our responsibility to do away with the division in Palestine at a time when the Palestinians are suffering enormous pain and at a time when they have to deal with their problem on their own, Sahin said.
It is crucial to end the division in Palestine. As the Islamic world, we have to extend a hand of help to our Palestinian brothers and sisters, Sahin said.
Turkey is ready to extend all assistance in this regard. In a region dominated by members of the OIC, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) faces a blockade similar to the one in Gaza. We expect the Islamic world to display the same solidarity on the tyrannized people of the TRNC, Sahin said.
It is important to resolve problems through dialogue and mutual understanding. The sides must respect international laws and mutual rights. As Turkey, we want peace, stability and welfare in the Middle East. We will continue to make efforts to help our Palestinian brothers and sisters overcome the difficult conditions they live under, Sahin also said.
