Turkey slams UN flotilla report, announces harsh measures against Israel

[Doktor]

Guess the Turkish military got tired.

Dunno what else to say, but they are overstretching their potentials.

All they missed to do so far is to Block the Russians in the Black Sea and engage for the rights of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria. That way all of the neighbors would be covered

[airforceexpert]

How are they planing to do that? I mean isn't Gaza still Israeli territory?

That's where all the problem is.

The Turkish Republic does not recognize the sovereignty of the State of Israel over the Palestinian territories (1967 borders). Turkey views Palestine (1967 borders) as an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Turkey has now obtained the backing of Brazil and Russia for recognition of Palestinian statehood. Turkey is also putting its weight behind plans to have the UN recognize a Palestinian state.

In recent months Turkey has also brokered a deal between Fatah and Hamas to help achieve this.

Accordingly, this has now become a tit-for-tat between Turkey and Israel. Turkey uses the issue of Palestine, Israel uses Northern Cyprus and Kurdish groups.

[Zinja]

Israel should treat this as their own Cuban crisis - a do or die policy. They should not back down. Once Israel allows one 'humanitarian aid' flotillas to go through all flood gates will be open, there will be no stopping it again. It would be tantamount to the US acquiescing to the SU.

What are they doing trying to patrol Cyprus territory anywhere? Cyprus is in the EU do they think EU will stand by and allow its member state to be threatened? Turkey administrations' true colours are coming out now.

[Doktor]

airforceexpert,

I really appreciate your views and participation in the forums.

Care to introduce yourself to the rest of us?

When you will introduce yourself, you might wanna read http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/mem...val-guide.html and http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/mem...3-13-11-a.html

Have fun

[airforceexpert]

Not only that, like the Palmer report concluded, the blockade is legal and therefore Israel can board any ship in international waters that is suspected to be a blockade runner. If Turkey tries to stop that from happening then they are in essence breaking, or at the very least circumventing international law

A blockade is legal when it is within your territorial waters.

What must be noted here is that Israel has in affect gone one step further and also blockaded a segment of International Waters. This is what has ticked Turkey off and hence why it is initiating proceedings at the The International Court of Justice.

The ICJ will now conclude whether or not the blockade is legal.

[Parihaka]

"As a littoral state which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey will take whatever measures it deems necessary in order to ensure the freedom of navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean"

This statement which was contained in the Press Release of the Turkish Foreign Minister has been further clarrified as follows:

(1) The Turkish Navy will escort all vessels to and from Gaza;.

Then you'd best expect your naval vessels to be blown out of the water the moment they enter Israeli territorial waters, followed swiftly by expulsion from NATO and European sanctions against Turkey. They really don't take kindly to member states going rogue and starting shooting wars. Only the big powers can get away with that.

[airforceexpert]

Israel should treat this as their own Cuban crisis - a do or die policy. They should not back down. Once Israel allows one 'humanitarian aid' flotillas to go through all flood gates will be open, there will be no stopping it again. It would be tantamount to the US acquiescing to the SU.

What are they doing trying to patrol Cyprus territory anywhere? Cyprus is in the EU do they think EU will stand by and allow its member state to be threatened? Turkey administrations' true colours are coming out now.

The Republic of Turkey is a Guarantor power of Cyprus under the Treaty of Guarantee, 1960.

The Republic of Cyprus of the one part, and Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the other part,
I. Considering that the recognition and maintenance of the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus, as established and regulated by the Basic Articles of its Constitution, are in their common interest,
II. Desiring to co-operate to ensure respect for the state of affairs created
by that Constitution,
Have agreed as follows: -

Article I
The Republic of Cyprus undertakes to ensure the maintenance of its independence, territorial integrity and security, as well as respect for its Constitution.
It undertakes not to participate, in whole or in part, in any political or economic union with any State whatsoever. It accordingly declares prohibited any activity likely to promote, directly or indirectly, either union with any other State or partition of the Island.

Article II
Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, taking note of the undertakings of the Republic of Cyprus set out in Article I of the present Treaty, recognise and guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus, and also the state of affairs established by the Basic Articles of its Constitution.
Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom likewise undertake to prohibit, so far as concerns them, any activity aimed at promoting, directly or indirectly, either union of Cyprus with any other State or partition of the Island.

Article III
The Republic of Cyprus, Greece and Turkey undertake to respect the integrity of the areas retained under United Kingdom sovereignty at the time of the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, and guarantee the use and enjoyment by the United Kingdom of the rights to be secured to it by the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with the Treaty concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus signed at Nicosia on to-day's date.

Article IV
In the event of a breach of the provisions of the present Treaty, Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom undertake to consult together with respect to the representations or measures necessary to ensure observance of those provisions.
In so far as common or concerted action may not prove possible, each the three guaranteeing Powers reserves the right to take action with the sole aim of re-establishing the state of affairs created by the present Treaty.

Article V
The present Treaty shall enter into force on the date of signature. The original texts of the present Treaty shall be deposited at Nicosia.
The High Contracting Parties shall proceed as soon as possible to the registration of the present Treaty with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have signed the present Treaty.

DONE at Nicosia this sixteenth day of August, 1960, in English and French, both texts being equally authoritative.
For the Republic of Cyprus:
Ο ΚΥΠΡΟΥ ΜΑΚΑΡΙΟΣ F.kucuk
For Greece:
G. CHRISTOPOULOS
For Turkey:
Vecdi Turel
For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
Hugh Foot

The EU has limits on what it can do with regards to the Cyprus issue.

You would recall that Gibraltar's sovereignty is disputed by Spain (In 1704, during the War of the Spanish Succession, a combined Anglo-Dutch force captured the town of Gibraltar, leading to a permanent exodus of the existing population to the surrounding areas of the Campo de Gibraltar. Under the terms of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht Gibraltar was ceded to Britain in perpetuity. Spain unsuccessfully attempted to regain control during the Great Siege of Gibraltar which lasted from 1779 to 1783) but this has not prevented Spain from becoming an EU member or Spain and the UK maintaining diplomatic relations.

[Zinja]

A blockade is legal when it is within your territorial waters.

What must be noted here is that Israel has in affect gone one step further and also blockaded a segment of International Waters. This is what has ticked Turkey off and hence why it is initiating proceedings at the The International Court of Justice.

The ICJ will now conclude whether or not the blockade is legal.

The blockade is within Israel territory. The boarding, yes, is in international waters and as the report notes, its legal. Whether Turkey likes this verdict or not thats where things stand this far. If Turkey is not satisfied, fine, they can pursue the matter with the ICJ that is acceptable. But escorting obviously belligerent flotillas with military vessels against a sovereign state is taking international law into your own hands, Israel has the right to defend itself against such. Blow them out of the water!

[airforceexpert]

Then you'd best expect your naval vessels to be blown out of the water the moment they enter Israeli territorial waters, followed swiftly by expulsion from NATO and European sanctions against Turkey. They really don't take kindly to member states going rogue and starting shooting wars. Only the big powers can get away with that.

NATO decisions are made by consensus. I don't see the Turkish Republic voting itself out of NATO.
Furthermore, NATO has significant assets on Turkish territory such as the new radar stations being built for protection against ballistic missiles: AFP: Turkey to host radar for NATO missile defense
Turkey abandoning NATO would have significant adverse affects for the Western Camp with regards to Central Asia, Russia (e.g. Istanbul Straits treaty) and the Balkans.
Turkey was a member when it invaded Cyprus at the dismay of fellow NATO member Greece.

[airforceexpert]

The blockade is within Israel territory. The boarding, yes, is in international waters and as the report notes, its legal. Whether Turkey likes this verdict or not thats where things stand this far. If Turkey is not satisfied, fine, they can pursue the matter with the ICJ that is acceptable. But escorting obviously belligerent flotillas with military vessels against a sovereign state is taking international law into your own hands, Israel has the right to defend itself against such. Blow them out of the water!

Who knows maybe this is what Turkey is aiming for...A military confrontation with Israel. That's the only logical interpretation I can afford this whole situation. It is most unfortunate.

[airforceexpert]

The blockade is within Israel territory. The boarding, yes, is in international waters and as the report notes, its legal. Whether Turkey likes this verdict or not thats where things stand this far. If Turkey is not satisfied, fine, they can pursue the matter with the ICJ that is acceptable. But escorting obviously belligerent flotillas with military vessels against a sovereign state is taking international law into your own hands, Israel has the right to defend itself against such. Blow them out of the water!

Report of the Secretary-General’s Panel of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla Incident September 2011

Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Chair
President Alvaro Uribe, Vice-Chair
Mr. Joseph Ciechanover Itzhar
Mr. Süleyman Özdem Sanberk

The Secretary-General established the Panel of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla Incident on 2 August 2010. The Panel received and reviewed reports of the detailed national investigations conducted by both Turkey and Israel. Turkey established a National Commission of Inquiry to examine the facts of the incident and its legal consequences, which provided an interim and final report to the Panel along with annexes and related material. Israel provided the report of the independent Public Commission that it had established to review whether the actions taken by the State of Israel had been compatible with international law.

The Panel reviewed these reports and further information and clarifications it received in written form and through direct meetings with Points of Contact appointed by each government. In light of the information so gathered, the Panel has examined and identified the facts, circumstances and context of the incident and onsidered and recommended ways of avoiding similar incidents in the future. In so doing it was not acting as a Court and was not asked to adjudicate on legal liability. Its findings and recommendations are therefore not intended to attribute any legal responsibilities. Nevertheless, the Panel hopes that its report may resolve the issues surrounding the incident and bring the matter to an end.

The Panel’s Method of Work provided that the Panel was to operate by consensus, but where, despite best efforts, it was not possible to achieve consensus, the Chair and ViceChair could agree on any procedural issue, finding or recommendation. This report has been adopted on the agreement of the Chair and Vice-Chair under that procedure.

http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/mi...nel_Report.pdf

As you can see the Palmer report is not a Court Judgement or a verdict. At best it is a legal opinion. It has no International Law validity. The decision of the International Court of Justice shall determine the legality of the dispute.

[snapper]

I for one, welcome the referral of the legality of the Gaza blockade/exclusion zone to the ICJ. However this referral is not yet a done deal; it needs a vote in the UN General Assembly.

I am not sure that Gaza will win such a court case though. I expect Israel to argue that there is a de facto state of war and thus a blockade is justified.

(3) All vessels to and from Syria and Lebanon will be escorted by Turkish Navy vessels Sure about that?

[Zinja]

As you can see the Palmer report is not a Court Judgement or a verdict. At best it is a legal opinion. It has no International Law validity. The decision of the International Court of Justice shall determine the legality of the dispute.

In the absence of a judgement of a competent international court, this report is the only authoritative opinion worth its salt that is internationally acceptable. While legally the legality of boarding on international waters is still an issue up in the air, at best Israel has a leg to stand on for now but turkey doesn't.

[Zinja]

I for one, welcome the referral of the legality of the Gaza blockade/exclusion zone to the ICJ.

Yes, that is the civilised way that a responsible nation should take to resolve disputes not starting shooting wars. Turkey is just spoiling for a fight against Israel, thats all.

[Zinja]

Who knows maybe this is what Turkey is aiming for...A military confrontation with Israel.

Thats not good for Turkey.