Putin told to "subdue fever" around the Flotilla

09.06.2010 It is important to "subdue fever" around the incident with humanitarian convoy sailed to the Gaza Strip and to prevent breaking out of a new conflict in the Middle East, said Tuesday Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in his speech at the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICMA).

A week ago in the Mediterranean Israeli Navy intercepted the Freedom Flotilla of six vessels carried humanitarian cargo and delegation of human rights activists to the blocked Gaza Strip. Nine passengers were killed, dozens were injured, hundreds were imprisoned and then deported. Also, seven Israeli commandos who faced severe resistance of pro-Palestinian activists were wounded.

"We strongly concerned about such crude violation of generally recognized norms of international law. We consider the primary objective is to subdue political heat and thoroughly clarify all circumstances; appropriate inquiry is needed. We can not let a new fire break out in the Middle East", Putin said.

The premier pointed out that tragic incident happened to the humanitarian convoy aroused a new aggravation in the region.

"We insist on the fastest end of blockade of the Gaza Strip and substantive steps towards relief of humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories", Putin said.