PRESIDENT AL-ASSAD- ERDOGAN PRESS CONFERENCE (June 7, 2010)

Istanbul, (SANA) – President Bashar Al-Assad affirmed on Monday that the Israeli aggression on the Freedom Flotilla was a heinous crime in which Israel killed the supporters with premeditation and planning.

In a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Al-Assad said that the supporters' goal was only to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza Strip.

President Al-Assad stressed Syria's solidarity with the brotherly people of Turkey over the beloved sons and brothers who were killed during Israel's criminal aggression on Freedom Flotilla.

I convey the solidarity of the Syrian people to the brotherly people of Turkey for losing the lives of their sons and brothers in defense of a fair issue and in defense of oppressed people, they are martyrs and the martyrs are in the paradise.

"The important thing is to know that what has happened was not a mere crime, but was a part of the nature of Israel which was founded as a state on the blood of the Palestinians… what has happened was not the first time and it was not an accident that happens for the first time… this act has begun a century ago and it is still happening… what has happened was not a mere mistake perpetrated by soldiers or a mistake in a decision adopted by the Israeli government or what is called the inner cabinet of the Israeli government.. It is a state that reflects an instinct existed in Israel and has built up throughout history," President Al-Assad said.

The President added "if this case or crime was not a new case, the only new thing in this crime is that it is the first time Israel can't accuse those innocents ...Israel always kills the innocents, but it couldn't accuse them of terrorism though it has claimed so."

The President said that the martyrs are destined for Heaven, adding "our feelings for the Turkish martyrs are the same as our feelings towards losing a Syrian, Palestinian or any Arab citizen."

He said that the Israeli crime against Freedom Flotilla meant to make Turkey pay for its commitment to peace.

President Al-Assad pointed out that Israel is used to relying on biased mediations." The Turkish mediation is impartial and thus it has dealt a harsh blow to Israel."

"Israel has had several objectives from what has happened to the freedom Flotilla: First, Israel wanted to deter any other flotilla or ship from coming to Gaza; because talking about the siege on Gaza and on the siege Palestinians in general is forbidden as far as the Israeli logic is concerned; even talking of the killing of the Palestinians is forbidden,'' added President al-Assad.

"What happened in Davos wasn't directed against Premier Erdogan; rather it was directed against the Turkish People, and their stances; among which is their stances on the war against Iraq when the Turkish people rejected to make of Turkey and its territories a base for the illegitimate invasion of a free independent country. The objective was also to offend the Turkish people and their stances in support of Gaza, and their persistent bids to lift the siege and support aid convoys to the Palestinians. The objective was further to harm the stance of the Turkish People in support of their Governments role in peace process,"

"So, Israel has to know that as long as it remains the occupier of the territories, it would remain the unquestionable enemy for the owners of those territories; and as long as Israel remains against the peace, it remains the enemy for all peace advocates. We, as the people the indigenous People of this region want peace.'' underscored President al-Assad.

President Al-Assad underlined that the Israeli aggression on Freedom Flotilla targeted the Turkish people and their stances starting from war on Iraq.

"Freedom Flotilla is a mark of distinction in the history and geography of the region… I'm not talking about a new history, but rather an old history that we recall in a modern and civilized manner in its bright aspects," President Al-Assad said, adding that the mixture of Arab blood with Turkish blood will break the siege.

President Al-Assad added, "My Brother Prime Minister Erdogan has said in one of his speeches recently that Jerusalem is the same as Istanbul and what happens in the Palestinian territories happens on Turkish lands, and I say to him that the Arab blood and the Turkish blood are the same. This is not new. This is a historical issue and today Turkey stands by Gaza, and the Ottoman Turkey a little more than one hundred years ago rejected to give Palestine to the Jews. This is well known, so we are talking about one blood throughout history".

The President affirmed that this mixture of blood will break the siege on Gaza against the will of Israel, adding that it will also impose quarantine on Israel and place it under siege.

President Al-Assad stressed that the Turkish flag will remain with the Palestinian flag waving opposite the Palestinian lands and shores. The red Turkish flag, which is a symbol of the martyrs' blood and draws its color this time from the blood of the Turkish martyrs spilt on the Palestinian shores, will keep waving in the face of the Israelis till all rights are restored back to their owners.

President Al-Assad underlined that Israel wanted Turkey to say at the end of the indirect negotiations that the Arab side hinders the peace process, yet Syria's prompt response to the Turkish initiative unmasked Israel and showed to the world that Israel, not the Syrian side or the Arab side, is the party which blocks peace.

The President said that Israel wanted Turkey to say that the Arab side is the one responsible for hindering the peace process not the Israeli aggression on Gaza, adding that Israel wanted Erdogan to say only some vague terms with no meaning similar to what we used to hear from Western officials.

President Al-Assadsaid "Israel is addicted to biased mediations. Addiction to biased mediations is similar to drug addiction. When we prevent drugs from reaching an addict, he/she will pass through a state of rampage and could do anything." He added that the Turkish fair mediation is similar to preventing the drug from reaching to this addict.

President Al-Assad said "We, in Syria, are not supporters of speeches or statements, rather we are supporters of action."

He added that Syria is ready to go on with no hesitation for any measures taken by Turkey's leadership and people in responding to the Israeli aggression on Freedom Flotilla and to prevent the Israeli roistering.

For his part, Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that the Israeli pretexts regarding the aggression on Freedom Flotilla are by no means convincing, describing them as 'weak', adding that the aggression is a criminal act.

He said Israel tries to cover up this crime, depending on those who back it and encourage it to do such acts, adding that its policy is based on the excessive force.

Erdogan said it is not enough for the international community to condemn the crime, but that an independent international committee must be set up to investigate it, stressing that the crime must not pass without punishment and there must be firm reactions against Israel.

Erdogan said Israel will pay the price for the martyrs of Freedom Flotilla, adding that Turkey will follow up efforts to open an international investigation into the Israeli crime against the flotilla.

Erdogan said Israel used to lie and it always does so, adding that Israeli accusations against the activists onboard of the Freedom Flotilla are lies.

The Prime Minister called on the international community to appropriately respond to Israel's exercises.

He pointed to the issuance of more than 100 UN resolutions against Israel, demanding the international community to implement them.

Erdogan affirmed the need for uniting efforts to end the state of division among the Palestinians, saying that the demands of the Palestinian people are of priority, and that no-one has the right to cause division among the Palestinian people.

"It is a great mistake to describe Hamas movement as terrorist," he added.

"This assault wasn't on Turkish citizens only, there were citizens from many other countries, the whole world responded by a strong condemning voice for what has happened," Erdogan added.

He strongly condemned the assault which took place in the international waters, 72 miles away from Israel against an unarmed Flotilla and humanitarian activists onboard it, adding that this thing aggravated the situation.

Erdogan stressed that the assault on the Freedom Flotilla was a barbarian one targeted innocent people in a way that is not acceptable by the international law or the human values especially that the ships of the flotilla don't impose any threat to Israel or to any Israeli civilians.

He said the Israeli assault on the supporters has changed the situation in the region, the situation is no longer the same as it used to be before that attack.

"President Al-Assad and I stressed that the law is above every thing … we discussed the mutual steps to achieve peace, in that framework we believe it is not enough for the international community to just condemn this crime … An international investigating committee should be formed," Erdogan added.

"I consider the resolutions of the Arab League Council and the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) are very important steps that must be supported, we shouldn't adopt resolutions only; there must be practical procedures, and the international community should act properly," he added.

"Syria is a friend of us and its support in this matter is a source of great happiness for us … There are no limits in humanitarian assistance. This crime is against humanity … Palestine and Gaza are like large open prisons, we can't accept such bloodshed and inhuman punishment. We can't and must not keep silent over this matter in all international forums," Erdogan said.