Cyprus: Suspected Iran arms ship violates UN resolutions

[Fozzledick]

By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press

Cypriot authorities on Friday searched a cargo ship suspected by the United States of carrying Iranian arms to Hamas militants in Gaza.

Officials refused to divulge any details about the ship or its cargo.

The Cypriot-flagged container ship Monchegorsk is anchored off the island's southern port of Limassol, where it arrived Thursday after a stop in Port Said, Egypt. The U.S. military stopped the vessel in the Red Sea last week, but allowed it to continue because the U.S. could not legally stop its journey or seize its cargo.

Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias said the ship had violated United Nations resolutions, but gave no details, saying only that the ship was being searched.

"We're handling this responsibly, I can't at this time make any remarks that ... may create more problems," Christofias said.

He added: "We are investigating what it's carrying and I've told you that we must handle these things very responsibly and very seriously and without a lot of clamor in the media."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1060292.html

[azurnoir]

1. So Ha'aretz claims the arms were for Hamas ?

Then would it have not made far more sence for the ship to land in Egypt or along the Red sea somewhere? There are other accounts that say the actual destination was unknown perhaps Lebanon was the where it was headed which would make sense, the only I have seen so far that try's to state unequivocally that it was for Hamas is Ha'aretz but then I have not checked JPost yet, Cypriot officials say no such thing in fact and do even say what exactly the cargo is.

The Cyprus-flagged ship was suspected of carrying weapons destined for the Lebanese Islamist guerrilla group Hezbollah or for Islamist Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, Haaretz quoted Israeli sources as saying.

On Wednesday, U.S. military officials said personnel from the U.S. Navy last week boarded the Cypriot-flagged "Monchegorsk", a cargo vessel travelling from Iran to Syria, and found a weapons shipment but for legal reasons did not confiscate the cargo.

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLU74583320090130

[Chulanowa]

2. I love speculative journalism

The next guess? Boat full of tribbles, to eat all of the Zionist grain!

[azurnoir]

8. A dastardly plot if ever there was one n/t

[Fozzledick]

3. U.S. and Israeli military sources have been saying all along they think the arms are for Hamas

but have no authority to seize the cargo because the ship is flying a Cypriot flag and claims to be bound for Syria.

Egypt wouldn't allow them to dock at an Egyptian port, and held them up at the Suez canal until U.S. and Israeli warships were in place on the other side to "escort" them away from the Sinai coast.

Now Cypress, acting on it's sovereign authority, has seized and searched it, and is reporting that the ship had violated United Nations resolutions, but they're trying to handle it as diplomatically as possible.

Cyprus' Parliament Speaker Marios Garoyian described issues raised by ship as very sensitive.

"Our aim is to resolve the matter in the best possible way without harming the interests of the Republic of Cyprus ... The less that is said the better," he said.

[azurnoir]

5. They were bound supposedly for Syria

so is the claim now that Syria is supplying Hamas? Syria has been supplying Hezbollah but I can see how the claim that arms were for Hamas fits a certain political agenda where as the arms possibly being for Hezbollah is more likely and in any event the delivery was for Syria the only surprise here is that there are no claims of parts for that nuclear facility that Syria is reputedly building?

[Fozzledick]

6. It's the most convenient excuse for a ship caught approaching Gaza full of weapons

[azurnoir]

7. So now your claiming that this ship was going to

run the Israeli navy blockade in the waters off of Gaza who would havwe gladly blown the ship to smithereens? Is Cyprus being careful because what they fear the long arm Hamas?

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Are you even remotely familiar with Syria?

""There are two main smuggling routes," one official explained. "Some of the weaponry comes by ground from Somalia, Sudan and then into Egypt and through a tunnel into Gaza, while some comes by boat."

The boats sometimes unload the shipments in the Sinai's Port Said, where it is smuggled into Gaza by land. Other times, the shipments are dropped overboard in waterproof containers and are picked up by Palestinian fishermen or divers." source

You are aware of the number of Hamas leaders currently in Syria, yes? You are aware Syria provides them safe haven? Talk about someone trying to make this fit an agenda. :eyes:

[azurnoir]

12. Yes I am aware that th current

propaganda du jour for keeping Gazas waters sealed off is that weapons are being floated in from Syria or somewhere or something or other
But are you aware of Syrias links to Hezbollah? However I can see where Israel's supporters are at the moment desperate for negative anything aimed at Palestinians er ahh Gazans er ahhh Hamas yes Hamas thats it
OH and your JPost source weapons are being smuggled though the IDF controlled West bank is that the claim? Wow IDF better get on the stick

What agenda am I trying to fit pray tell the facts and but your implausible theories speak for themselves

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Apparently you don't know what you are discussing.

However, that is not unexpected. I am aware of the links Syria has to Hizb'allah and Hamas, something you seem not to be familiar with at all. I can also see where the anti-Israel brigade are desperate in justifying arming Hamas, um the Gazans, oh, wait, the Palestinians. Then again, anyone who thinks the entire IDF controls the WB has shown their limited knowledge of the area...yet again.

[azurnoir]

17. Ah yeah do keep trying

like I said the IDF and Mossad needs to get on the stick oh and your reverse progression of my post Hamas. Gazans. Palestinians perhaps you admitted more than you intended. but I am done now with you so do flame on challange say what ever my answer is pfffft Buh Bye

[Behind the Aegis]

18. BWAHAHAHA!

Now your getting Mossad in the picture? How fucking predictable! :rofl: What a sad little poster you are. Your posts are becoming more and more unhinged and lacking of any real substance, history, knowledge, or accuracy. What a shame.

[GoesTo11]

10. Ha'aretz = Israeli right wing propaganda machine

[azurnoir]

13. I am surprised you would think that but if you say so

who am I to argue

[bemildred]

15. I've been wondering about that since this story came up.

How's it supposed to get into Gaza without being noticed and confiscated or blown up? I don't see floating it all in on the surf as a workable plan.

[oberliner]

19. Shipments are dropped overboard in waterproof containers and are picked up by Gazan fishermen

"There are two main smuggling routes," one official explained this week. "Some of the weaponry comes by ground from Somalia, Sudan and then into Egypt and through a tunnel into Gaza, while some comes by boat."

The boats sometimes unload the shipments in the Sinai's Port Said, where it is smuggled into Gaza by land. Other times, the shipments are dropped overboard in waterproof containers and are picked up by Gazan fishermen or divers.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050212580&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

This claim has been reported in JPost for some time. This is from April:

'Iran smuggling arms into Gaza by sea'

"They throw the weapons overboard in waterproof, sealed tubes which then float into the Gaza waters and are picked up by fishermen," one official said. "Sometimes Navy boats intercept them and sometimes they get through."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1208422633228

[bemildred]

22. Please see post #21. nt

[bemildred]

4. Well, I must say this enthusiasm for the sanctity of UN resolutions is heartening.

Perhaps soon we will see such diligence applied to non-Iran-related ones too.

[Idealism]

9. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you

[bemildred]

14. Cyprus searches ship accused by US of carrying Iranian weapons to Hamas

Hints of a "translation problem".

Cyprus officials today admitted that they were carrying out a search of a ship that is suspected of carrying weapons from Iran for Hamas in Gaza. The ship, which had earlier docked in Port Said but was ordered by Egyptian authorities to leave, had apparently been forced by the US Navy to sail to the port of Limassol in Cyprus yesterday.

It seems that the Americans forced the ship into the port because it was registered in Cyprus and flying the Cyprus flag. This apparently allows the Cyprus authorities to legally board and search the ship.

---

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias announced that an investigation is underway, and said: “It is a problem for us that we are forced to accept a ship under the Cypriot flag which is carrying whatever is carrying, which is contrary or in conflict with Security Council resolutions”, President Christofias noted.

Although the President refrained from stating what the cargo was, and noted it was best to avoid media noise, it has been reported the Cypriot officials found weapons, including heavy artillery rockets, and training materials on how to use them.

http://www.albawaba.com/en/news/239924

[oberliner]

20. That article indicates that Hamas used Iranian rockets to attack Israel

Last paragraph:

During the recent fighting in Gaza, Hamas used Iranian rocket artillery to hit large Israeli cities far beyond the range of the Palestinian's home-made Qassam rockets. The longer range is possible because the rockets from Iran are larger, more advanced, and of better quality (they are produced in advanced arms factories, not in small underground facilities as the Qassams).

<EOE>

They do not elaborate on how that Iranian-made weaponry reached Hamas.

Not sure what the "translation problem" is that you are referencing.

[bemildred]

21. It asserts that, it doesn't indicate that.

I've read that JPost article several times now, and that still does not make it a viable way to move a boatload of arms into Gaza. I'm not saying it never happens, I'm saying it's a very limited and unreliable way to move goods, especially with the coast embargoed and patrolled.

It's not just that the boat is easily monitored, it's that whomever is using the boat knows that it's going to be monitored. If it gets close to the Gaza coast, do you think it's going to slip out of observation?

The translation problem has to do with the assertion that the contents of the boat violate UN resolutions. Various stories have asserted that the Cypriot guy said the boat had contents that violate UN resolutions, but what he says is more along the lines that he says that he was told that, as opposed to knowing that himself; so it's not a new fact, it's an old assertion repeated. I am curious to know what they find, as opposed to what they were told they will find.

[oberliner]

24. Asserts but does not indicate?

Doesn't assert mean to state something and indicate mean to point out something? At least that's how I understand the two words. Not sure how you can state something without pointing something out.

That semantic argument aside, I would agree that it does not seem like a reliable way to transport goods, however, if true, it would be one possible explanation for what the ship's intentions were.

What language do you believe the Cypriot President was using in the quotations?

Here is his quotation as reported on the English edition of the Kathimerini website which I believe is a regional newspaper for Greece and Cyprus:

“We are investigating what is being transported, which is why we have to handle this issue very seriously,” President Dimitris Christofias told reporters. Christofias stressed that the issue was a “problem” for the island. “We don’t want to create any greater problems, because it is a problem for us when we are obliged to receive a Cyprus-flagged ship carrying that which it is carrying, which is in contravention of (United Nations) Security Council resolutions,” Christofias said.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100010_31/01/2009_104293

[bemildred]

25. This statement is the one I am talking about:

“It is a problem for us that we are forced to accept a ship under the Cypriot flag which is carrying whatever is carrying, which is contrary or in conflict with Security Council resolutions”

WRT assert/indicate, they are not the same thing, surely you understand the difference between an assertion and something that supports an assertion. "Indicate" has several meanings, I'm using this one: "to demonstrate or suggest the necessity or advisability of", specifically the "demonstrate or suggest the necessity" part.

Edit: It may be my math training, I am used to using "indicate" in the sense of "imply".

You will note that there does seem to be some ambiguity about that claim now.

[bemildred]

23. Cyprus to search suspected Hamas arms ship again

NICOSIA, Cyprus – The saga of a ship suspected of carrying arms from Iran to Gaza grew more complicated Saturday as Cypriot authorities searched the ship, then backed away from previous assertions that it was violating U.N. resolutions.

Authorities will now conduct a second search, the Cypriot foreign minister said.

Suspicions that the Cypriot-flagged container ship Monchegorsk was ferrying arms from Iran to the militant Palestinian organization Hamas had been raised by the United States. The U.S. military stopped the vessel in the Red Sea last week but could not legally detain it or seize its cargo.

The ship continued on to Port Said, Egypt, then headed for Cyprus, where it arrived Thursday. It remains anchored off the island nation's southern port of Limassol under tight marine police security.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090131/ap_on_re_eu/eu_cyprus_iran_arms