ISRAEL MUST APOLOGIZE AND PAY COMPENSATION TO THE FAMILIES

Responding to a question about the Mavi Marmara report, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, "If Israel wants to normalize its relations with Turkey, it must apologize and pay compensation to the families of our brothers and martyrs who lost their lives."

Answering the questions of the journalists after receiving Ahmet Gundogdu, the President of Confederation of Unions of Civil Servants and the accompanying delegation at the Ministry for EU Affairs, Bagis being asked his comment on postponement of the release of Mavi Marmara report once again upon Israel's request said, "The truth can't be denied."

Noting that nine citizens of the Republic of Turkey were martyred on international waters, Bagis said, "No country has the right to kill the citizens of another country on international waters. This can only be done by the illicit pirates. They can delay the report as much as they want, but the truth can't be hidden."

Indicating that Turkey's stance on this issue was clear, Bagis said:

"Our Prime Minister has laid down three very clear conditions. If Israel wants to normalize its relations with Turkey, it must apologize and pay compensation to the families of our brothers and martyrs who lost their lives and put an end to the unjust, illegal and unreasonable embargoes it imposes on Gaza. Our Prime Minister, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, each of us have already expressed our stand on this matter in everyplace and on every occasion. I also say this to the European politicians who are my interlocutors. Turkey's stance is clear."

Source: AA