Turkey gives priority to steps to be taken in line with views of fact-finding mission

ANKARA (A.A) - 25.03.2011 - Turkey said on Friday that taking steps in line with the views of an international fact-finding mission dealing with the Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, was among Turkey's priorities.
Turkey's Foreign Ministry released a statement in which it said that the report of United Nations (UN) international independent fact-finding mission set up to inquire the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla said in its report that Israel's Gaza blockade was illegal.
"The report also said Israel used unproportional, unnecessary and unbelievable force when intervening the aid flotilla, and Israeli force violated international human rights and laws," the statement said.
The statement said the UN Human Right Council, in its Friday's meeting, decided that the UN Human Rights High Commissioner should follow the issue.
The ministry statement said support to the decision had increased, and said countries which abstained in former votes including Britain, Spain, France, Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and Japan voted positively this time.
In September 2010, the report was adopted by 30 votes of 47 countries. However, this time 37 of 46 Council members supported the decision. 
"This support reaffirms that Turkey has been right in its reactions and expectations regarding human rights violations during the attack on Mavi Marmara ship," the statement said.
An Israeli raid on Gaza-bound aid flotilla killed nine Turks and wounded many others on May 31, 2010.
The UN Human Rights Council set up the international fact-finding mission on June 2, 2010 to investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance.