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UN urges Israel, Turkey to mend ties
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CNTV, September 4, 2011
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has urged Turkey and Israel to mend their ties for the good of Middle East peace. On Friday, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador in the latest fallout over last year's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
During his visit to Australia, UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, expressed regret that the report of an investigation into last year's Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid vessel had failed to bring Israel and Turkey closer together.
Ban Ki-moon said, "During last, over one year, particularly the incident of flotilla on May 31st last year happened, I have been really trying to help them to improve their relationship. Both countries are very important countries in the region and their improved relationship, normal relationship, will be very important in addressing all the situations in the Middle East, including the Middle East peace process, not to mention their bilateral relationship."
Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador following Israel's refusal to apologize for the raid on May 31st last year that killed nine pro-Palestinian activists. The expulsion further strained a relationship that had been a cornerstone of regional stability.
The investigators released their long-delayed report on Friday. One of the conclusions was that Israel's action had been "excessive and unreasonable".
But the panel also blamed Turkey and flotilla organizers for contributing to the deaths of nine activists, saying Ankara should have done more to warn the expedition organizers of the risks.
The report said Israel's naval blockade of Gaza was legal, but added that the killing of eight Turkish activists and a Turkish-American was "unacceptable".
The report called on Israel to offer payment to the injured and families of the dead through a joint trust fund administered by the two governments.
