More About The Gaza Flotilla Raid

General Assembly President And Qatari Leader Discuss Gaza Flotilla Raid

New York, Jun 2 2010 6:10PM The Israeli military “attack” on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza, which led to the deaths of 10 civilians, was among the issues discussed by General Assembly President Ali Treki during a meeting in Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Monday’s raid on the six-ship convoy that was carrying humanitarian goods and activists has drawn international criticism, including from UN officials, as well as a call for an immediate investigation into the incident.

The Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council today voted to dispatch an independent, international probe into violations of international law resulting from Israel’s actions. It also demanded that Israel release all detained persons and material aboard the ships.

During their meeting earlier this week, Dr. Treki and the Emir condemned the attack, and called for the “immediate lifting of siege on Gaza, and the release of all detainees,” according to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Assembly President.

In addition to meeting with the Qatari leader, Dr. Treki also delivered a keynote address at the 10th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade.

Prior to arriving in Doha, Dr. Treki paid a two-day visit to Brazil, where he attended the Third Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, entitled “Bridging Cultures, Building Peace,” which took place in Rio de Janeiro.

The Assembly President noted the need to fight ignorance and to undertake practical steps that would lead to a new era of political, economic and social advancement.

He also reaffirmed that the international community has denounced the atrocities committed by the Nazi against the Jews as a genocide and crime against humanity; underscored that the international community also adopted collective measures against ethnic cleansing; and stressed that the world should address the collective punishment measures against Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The visit also included discussions with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

Earlier last week on his official visit to Argentina, Dr. Treki participated in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of that country’s independence.

On 25 May, he had a bilateral meeting with President Evo Morales of Bolivia, with whom he discussed a wide range of issues, particularly the UN’s role on climate change and the high-level summit to be held in New York in September on the globally agreed anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Dr. Treki is now in Saudi Arabia for a four-day official visit.

ENDS

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