The daily press briefing of June 20th by the office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations referred to issues including Sudan, Libya, nuclear safety and refugees.
When the spokesperson called for questions, what was the first issue raised by Masood?
"Question: Martin there was a press conference by these activists groups who are going to go to Greece and from there about 10 ships carrying aid supplies, only aid supplies for the Gazans are going to go. And they are scheduled to leave around 26 or 27 of this month. They have said in the briefing that they have appealed to the United Nations to ask the Israeli authorities not to… I mean to be restrained. And similarly they asked the same thing of the United States. But I am just concerned about the United Nations. What is it that the Secretary-General can do to persuade the Israelis not to attack the flotilla, as it has done in the past?"
Masood's question focuses on what Israel should do or not do. However, the spokesperson first addresses the issue of those who are planning to set sail who were asked by the United Nations to desist from such an activity.
"Well, I think you will recall that the statement that we issued referred to both parts of this equation. Firstly, saying that the Secretary-General has written to the littoral States, urging them to persuade those who might want to set sail on such an endeavour to think again because of the reasons that we have stated before, namely that we don’t want to see tensions increased in the region and that there are established routes to provide aid which is obviously vitally important and needed...."
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2011/db110620.doc.htm
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