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IHH pulls out of flotilla, denies government pressure, says 'technical difficulties' to blame

The 'technical difficulties' line is not very believable as all the heavy repairs to the propeller and engine, damaged by the Israelis, have been completed. Earlier this month is was claimed that the US had offered Turkey more of a role in the non-existent 'peace process' and Middle East talks as a carrot to entice the Erdogan government to pull out of the humanitarian mission. 15 boats will still be sailing to Gaza, 10 of which are ready to go. The boats will be converging south of Cyprus in late June.

From the Wall Street Journal
The Mavi Marmara, the Turkish ship at the center of a diplomatic storm last year when Israeli soldiers boarded to stop it reaching Gaza and killed nine passengers, has pulled out of a repeat aid flotilla on June 25, the Turkish charity that owns the ship said Friday.

The decision came a few weeks after Turkey's government asked the flotilla to delay its departure, and amid signs of efforts by Turkey and Israel to cool their disputes amid growing turmoil in Syria, with which both countries share a border.

Bulent Yildirim, head of Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or IHH, denied the decision to pull the now-iconic ferry out of the flotilla was prompted by government pressure. "It is purely due to technical problems" caused by damage Israeli forces inflicted to the boat while they held Mavi Marmara, after seizing it in international waters as it headed for Gaza last May 31, he said.

Mr. Yildirim said IHH resources were also stretched. On Wednesday, the charity began distributing five tons or food aid to refugees camped just on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey. On Thursday, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey would start supplying those informal camps with aid. more
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  1. Anonymous17 June 2011 at 21:09

    That's a good one. Also Lloyds of London cancelled their insurance, without which they're not allowed to leave or enter any ports, plus they're not able to use US satellite navigation systems.

    ReplyDelete

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