Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Turkey brushes aside differences w/Canada in evacuation work

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Turkey brushes aside differences w/Canada in evacuation work

    The New Anatolian, Turkey
    July 28, 2006

    Turkey brushes aside differences with Canada in evacuation effort

    The New Anatolian / Ankara

    Turkey is winning praise and thanks from Canadians for its
    humanitarian efforts to save its people escaping from war-torn
    Lebanon, notwithstanding tense relations between the two countries
    since April.

    Leaving aside tensions stemming from the Canadian government's
    decision to recognize the Armenian genocide claims and Ottawa's moral
    support for Israel in the current Lebanese fighting, a view strongly
    opposed by Ankara, Turkish authorities and even citizens rushed to
    help the evacuation of Canadians from Lebanon and to provide them
    with all kinds of assistance before they left for their homeland.

    While Canadian Ambassador to Turkey Yves Brodeur thanked Turkey
    yesterday for its hospitality, the country's newspapers called on
    Canadians to take note and bear in mind that Turkey avoided
    temptation by brushing aside differences when it comes to
    humanitarian efforts. "The port of Mersin and the nearby airport in
    Adana were instead opened wide for Canadians coming off chartered
    ships," wrote the Montreal Gazette.

    "Although it would have been an easy matter for the Turkish
    authorities to find themselves too busy to return calls last week
    when Canada requested the use of a Turkish port and airport to funnel
    Canadians out of Lebanon as the principal staging post at Larnaca,
    Greek Cyprus was overflowing with people from many nations, the
    cooperation of Turkey's government simplified the evacuation process
    for many Canadians," the newspaper wrote. According to unofficial
    data, authorities said yesterday that so far some 9,500 foreigners,
    most of whom were Canadians and Australians, have been evacuated
    through the port of Mersin.

    Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who arrived in Adana
    yesterday to provide moral support to his country's citizens escaping
    the Israeli attacks in Lebanon, thanked Turkey in Turkish for the
    country's efforts in the humanitarian evacuation effort.

    Turkish authorities also announced yesterday that the first
    assistance sent by the Lighthouse Association has reached Lebanon.
    According to the statement, 60 tons of aid reached and was
    distributed in Beirut after a six-day journey.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X