ANKARA, (PIC)-- Turkish authorities summoned a senior U.S. diplomat to challenge what it felt was an attempt to limit the authority of the UN investigation into the Israeli massacre against the Freedom Flotilla, which ended in nine Turkish deaths and dozens of injuries.
A Turkish diplomat told the French press agency (AFP) Wednesday that Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara Doug Silliman was summoned to the Turkish foreign ministry to be “reprimanded” after comments by American ambassador to the UN Susan Rice that “the UN investigation is not a substitute for an internal investigation carried out by Israel and Turkey.”
He said, “The United States sees the committee from a narrow perspective. Rice’s statement suggests that the United States sets out the committee’s work.”
Ankara also opposed America’s view that the objective of the committee is to mend the once strong relations between Israel and Turkey that abruptly ended in crisis after the May 31st assault.
The diplomat confirmed that the attack is an issue between the global community and Israel, and not between Turkey and Israel, noting that passengers from 30 countries were on board the aid convoy.
He added: “The Commission's task is to investigate the incident, and it is not its duty to pardon Israel or improve relations between Turkey and Israel.”
Turkey condemned the attack as a violation of international law, the degree of which has prompted it to remove its ambassador and cancel three joint military exercises scheduled with the Israeli government.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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