'Just, transparent' inquiry into Gaza flotilla raid urged
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Chinese special envoy to the Middle East on Tuesday called for a "just and transparent" investigation into Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
China hopes to coordinate with the international community on the issue to ensure a "just and transparent" inquiry, Wu Sike said in an interview here with Xinhua.
"China supports the establishment of an international inquiry panel," added the envoy, who arrived in the region last weekend.
At least nine people were killed on May 31 when Israeli commandos stormed an international aid flotilla that was trying to break Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza.
The international community has urged Israel to accept an international inquiry into the incident, including a call from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for establishing an international investigation panel.
Wu said that the ultimate solution to the incident is to lift the Israeli siege of Gaza.
"I stressed this when talking to the Israeli side," said the envoy who has held separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials in the past few days.
He told Xinhua that lifting the Gaza siege will also help advance the Middle East peace process and Palestine's internal reconciliation.
On the Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks, Wu said China is making efforts to facilitate and promote the Middle East peace process, which is important for regional stability.
Israel and Palestine have launched indirect talks, breaking the year-long deadlock in the peace process.
Wu said China saw the significance of mutual trust and flexibility in the talks, adding that to promote the talks, each side needs to adhere to the belief that their problems could be solved through peace talks.
