US calls Turkey's Gaza flotilla repor "credible"

After calling Israel's probe into a deadly raid on Gaza-bound aid ships last May "credible, impartial and transparent," US State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley on Wednesday also described Turkey's Gaza flotilla report as "independent and credible." "Both [Turkey and Israel] are doing what they can to help contribute to a fuller understanding of what happened during this incident last year," Crowley told reporters. "I'm saying that Turkey … [produced] an independent, credible report. I'm not challenging either [report]." Noting that the Turkish national inquiry commission submitted its interim report to the UN secretary-general's investigative committee last September, Crowley said that both Turkey and Israel had worked "seriously and responsibly to find the facts; and both have made important contributions to the work of the secretary-general's panel." He added, "We look forward to the process continuing at the United Nations within the secretary-general's panel of inquiry, which will give the international community the opportunity to fully review the circumstances surrounding this incident. And we look forward to a full examination of facts and perspectives from all sides." Crowley said relations with both Turkey and Israel carry "equal importance" for the US. The US also recognizes the importance of the relationship between Turkey and Israel, he added, saying that both countries have worked to resolve the dispute.