Pakistan demands emergency sessions of UN, OIC

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Monday, 31 May, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday expressing concern on attack of Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters demanded the world community to take serious notice of this uncalled for incident.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi talking to newsmen at the Benazir International Airport this afternoon said, “Pakistan has strongly protested the incident.”

Foreign Minister asked the Secretary General OIC to convene emergency meeting of the OIC to discuss the issue with consultation and consensus with other members.

He said United Nations should also take immediate action on this incident. He said there was no moral and legal justification of this attack and it was also violation of international borders because the “Freedom Flotilla” carrying relief goods was attacked in the open sea.

He said Pakistan is also using all possible means to get information about the well being of the Pakistani journalists present in the Freedom Flotilla.

The Foreign Minister said he had talked to American Ambassador Anne Patterson by telephone to use her influence and diplomatic sources to get the latest information about the status of Pakistani journalists as Pakistan has not direct diplomatic links with Israel.

The “Freedom Flotilla” comprising six ships was forcefully stopped from reaching the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli blockade.

The convoy includes the “Mavi Marmara,” a large Turkish-flagged passenger vessel with about 600 people on board, two cargo ships and three other boats.

Two other boats are also Turkish-flagged, while another two are Greek and one more was from the United States. More than 700 people, most of them from international non-governmental organizations, people of various nationalities, religions and from all walks of life including three journalists from Pakistan were on board.

He said Pakistan has great concern about the media persons including Talat Hussain, representative of a private Pakistani television channel.

The Foreign Minister said he had talked to the wife of Talat Hussain to satisfy her that government of Pakistan is doing whatever is possible for the release of Talat Hussain and his colleagues.

Qureshi said, “Our embassy in Ankara, Cairo and Oman and other missions in EU have also been motivated to get information.

The Foreign Minister said first and top priority before the Pakistan government is to influence international community to condemn the issue and provide medical treatment to the injured there and avoid more aggression.

The Minister said he also talked to Pakistan's ambassador in Ankara and Cairo to get the latest information on this incident and informed about their status and also made efforts for their release.

“It is very serious issue, about 630 activists from 40 countries of the world were on board on Freedom Flotilla to provide human assistance to the Palestinian who were suffering from food and water,” said the Foreign Minister.

He said there were eight ships in the Freedom Flotilla, from different countries including UK, Greece, which had been affected due this incident.

The Minister said the incident needs international attention. Replying to a question, he said Pakistan is in touch with Arab League, which has summoned its emergency meeting to take up the issue of attack by Israel on Freedom Flotilla.

Qureshi said he also tried to contact Foreign Minister of Turkey, but he is on board and could not talk to him. He said he will contact the Turkish Foreign Minister later this evening.

Replying to a question, he said, immediate priority before the Pakistan government is to recover the Pakistani media persons.

He said, “Our ambassador in Ankara is in touch with Turkish government.”

He said neither Pakistan nor the international community is able to contact with the people who were on board Freedom Flotilla as there is no telephonic connection is available.