At UN Security Council, Turkey decries Gaza ”tragedy”

At the last UN Security Council meeting of the year on Wednesday, Turkey's Ambassador to the UN Ertugrul Apakan raised the issue of the deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza. Saying that it has been almost a year since Israel launched its offensive on Gaza, on Dec. 27, 2008, Apakan reiterated Turkey's call for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860, which outlines support for sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza and removing the blockade on Gaza to help the region's reconstruction. "We can no longer keep our eyes closed to this humanitarian tragedy," he said. "UN Security Council Resolution 1860 should be fully implemented without any further delay." Turkey joined the 15-nation UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January and will hold its seat through the end of 2010. Resolution 1860, adopted on Jan. 8, sets out urgent tasks for the international community and calls on UN member states to intensify their efforts to ensure the reopening of crossing points between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, while stressing the need to ensure a "sustained and regular flow of goods and people through Gaza crossings."