Azerbaijan bemoans Israeli attack on aid ships
Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the Israeli attack
on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip that has sparked an
angry response from the international community and prompted
protests worldwide.
Protesters gathered outside the Turkish embassy in Baku on Tuesday to condemn the Israeli attack, which left at least nine people dead. Participants of the picket, organized by the National-Moral Values public union, also stated their support for the Turkish government and people.
Israeli commandos intercepted the aid flotilla on Monday. The precise death toll is unknown, but reports said nine to 19 people were killed and over 30 wounded when the six vessels carrying rights defenders and humanitarian cargo were attacked. The aid flotilla was co-sponsored by a Turkish organization, and most of those killed were Turkish nationals.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the interception was unacceptable. "Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behavior," the ministry said in a statement.
Protesters in Baku carrying the Azerbaijani and Turkish flags and placards saying "Israel is a barbarian" and "Israel is a murderer" chanted slogans like "Azerbaijan and Turkey: one nation, two states", "Turkey’s grief is Azerbaijan’s grief" and "Down with Israel".
The Azerbaijani government also denounced the Israeli offensive.
"The Azerbaijani side believes that a humanitarian action’s resulting in human casualties is a fact causing concern," Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said. "This incident must be thoroughly investigated in a short time and the culprits be brought to book."
Polukhov said Azerbaijan supports providing humanitarian assistance to the population in the Gaza Strip.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated its official position to that end. On an instruction of the country’s President, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated this stance at the international donor conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in March last year. Azerbaijan stands by this stance."
A number of Azerbaijani political parties issued statements Tuesday condemning the Israeli attack. The opposition-leaning United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Great Establishment Party and Justice Party termed the attack as an unprecedented act of violence and said the responsibility for its consequences rests entirely with Tel-Aviv.
"The Israeli side that has attacked humanitarian aid ships took a major step that will deal a blow to peace talks in the region….We support Turkey’s fair cause and demand that those who committed those actions be immediately brought before an international court of law."
Pro-government Ana Vatan party also decisively condemned Israel’s "vandalism perpetrated against civilians" and called upon the world community to stand opposed to these actions.
"This terror’s being supported by Israeli government officials proves that the order to fire on civilians, on ships carrying humanitarian aid had been made by the highest-level state officials. This step by Israel is an assault on the values of mankind and humanism, and it should receive its fair and legal appraisal."
Azerbaijan’s senior clerical body has also criticized the Israeli attack.
"Treating a caravan of vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza residents facing blockade while disregarding international law has drawn ire from the Muslims of the region we live in," the Caucasus Muslims Office (CCO) said in a statement.
It said using force against peaceful residents and assaulting their lives is "definitely an unacceptable step contradicting humaneness".
Protesters gathered outside the Turkish embassy in Baku on Tuesday to condemn the Israeli attack, which left at least nine people dead. Participants of the picket, organized by the National-Moral Values public union, also stated their support for the Turkish government and people.
Israeli commandos intercepted the aid flotilla on Monday. The precise death toll is unknown, but reports said nine to 19 people were killed and over 30 wounded when the six vessels carrying rights defenders and humanitarian cargo were attacked. The aid flotilla was co-sponsored by a Turkish organization, and most of those killed were Turkish nationals.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the interception was unacceptable. "Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behavior," the ministry said in a statement.
Protesters in Baku carrying the Azerbaijani and Turkish flags and placards saying "Israel is a barbarian" and "Israel is a murderer" chanted slogans like "Azerbaijan and Turkey: one nation, two states", "Turkey’s grief is Azerbaijan’s grief" and "Down with Israel".
The Azerbaijani government also denounced the Israeli offensive.
"The Azerbaijani side believes that a humanitarian action’s resulting in human casualties is a fact causing concern," Foreign Ministry spokesman Elkhan Polukhov said. "This incident must be thoroughly investigated in a short time and the culprits be brought to book."
Polukhov said Azerbaijan supports providing humanitarian assistance to the population in the Gaza Strip.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated its official position to that end. On an instruction of the country’s President, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated this stance at the international donor conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in March last year. Azerbaijan stands by this stance."
A number of Azerbaijani political parties issued statements Tuesday condemning the Israeli attack. The opposition-leaning United Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Great Establishment Party and Justice Party termed the attack as an unprecedented act of violence and said the responsibility for its consequences rests entirely with Tel-Aviv.
"The Israeli side that has attacked humanitarian aid ships took a major step that will deal a blow to peace talks in the region….We support Turkey’s fair cause and demand that those who committed those actions be immediately brought before an international court of law."
Pro-government Ana Vatan party also decisively condemned Israel’s "vandalism perpetrated against civilians" and called upon the world community to stand opposed to these actions.
"This terror’s being supported by Israeli government officials proves that the order to fire on civilians, on ships carrying humanitarian aid had been made by the highest-level state officials. This step by Israel is an assault on the values of mankind and humanism, and it should receive its fair and legal appraisal."
Azerbaijan’s senior clerical body has also criticized the Israeli attack.
"Treating a caravan of vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza residents facing blockade while disregarding international law has drawn ire from the Muslims of the region we live in," the Caucasus Muslims Office (CCO) said in a statement.
It said using force against peaceful residents and assaulting their lives is "definitely an unacceptable step contradicting humaneness".
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