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The latest news on the Peace Cruise Thursday 5 August The first participants of the Peace Cruise arrive in Cairo. Friday 6 August The Black Knight that has been sailing for a few weeks in the Mediterranean Sea, comes alongside in the port of Alexandria. The 27 Peace Sailors, 19 boys and 8 girls, coming from 23 Mediterranean countries and their 4 trainers coming from France, Egypt, Switzerland and Germany, get to know each other. Saturday 7 August The Peace Sailors attend their first training session on mediation techniques and conflict management. Arrival of last participants in Alexandria. Sunday 8 August The official launch of the Peace Cruise takes place at 08.00 pm (local time) in the port of Alexandria. The launch is attended by the Governor of Alexandria, the President of the Egyptian Supreme Council for youth and sports, the .chairman of the European Scout Committee, and the Director of the Arab Scout Region. The 27 Peace Sailors receive a very warm welcome from the Egyptian youth, gathered by the Sea Scouts of Alexandria on the occasion of a Peace Event. Monday 9 August The Black Knight leaves the port of Alexandria at 22.00 and sails off to Gaza Tuesday 10 August First day out at sea for the Peace Sailors. Contrary to earlier information, the Israeli authorities informed the leadership of the Peace Cruise that the boat will not be allowed to enter the port of Gaza. Palestinian authorities react by refusing to welcome the Peace Sailors if they arrive in Gaza by road from Ashdod (Israel) Wednesday 11 August Second day at sea. Thursday 12 August The Black Knight comes alongside in Ashdod. The leadership of the Peace Cruise proposed to the Israeli authorities to anchor the boat at the border between Israeli territorial waters and the Palestinian fishing zone so that Palestinian boats can disembark the Peace Sailors in the Port of Gaza. Again the Israeli authorities refuse. The leadership of the Peace Cruise is informed that the Lebanese authorities will refuse the boat to enter the port of Beirut, which is foreseen for 22 August. The reason is probably that the boat will have previously entered "enemy territorial waters", i.e. Israel. The leadership of the Peace Cruise proposes to the Lebanese presidency to anchor the boat at the border of Lebanese territorial waters and to disembark the Peace Sailors on Lebanese boats. Friday 13 August Disappointed by all these events, the Peace Sailors head towards Haifa (Israel) The leadership of the Peace Cruise takes up again the negotiations with Israeli and Palestinian authorities in view of a possible return of the boat to Gaza during the second session. Saturday 14 August The Black Knight comes alongside the port of Haifa at 10.00 local time. Sunday 15 August The Peace Sailors are officially welcomed in the port of Haifa. They get off the boat to walk around the city. They attend a seminar on the issue of non-violence and meet the Mayor of Haifa. Monday 16 August The Peace Sailors go to Jerusalem where they meet Nawaf Massalkha, Foreign Affairs Minister, and Shimon Peres, Nobel Peace Prize winner and current minister of regional development.. Tuesday 17 August The Black Knight heads off to Larnaca (Cyprus), which is the last trip for the participants of the first session. Participants for session two start arriving in Larnaca. Wednesday 18 August Last day on board for the participants of session one. Thursday 19 August The Black Knight arrives in Larnaca. The 27 Peace Sailors of the first session are relayed by 16 Peace Sailors for the second session, representing 12 countries. A Peace Event brings together the 43 Peace Sailors at the Town Hall of Larnaca. The Presidency of the Lebanese Republic officially informs the leadership of the Peace Cruise that they refuse the proposal made the 12 August and that the 6 Lebanese participants and 2 Lebanese trainers who had registered for the second and third sessions will not be allowed to take part in the event. Friday 20 August The Peace Sailors of the first session make an evaluation of their stay on board the Black Knight. The 16 Peace Sailors of the second session meet with the 3 trainers (Spain, Germany, United-Kingdom) and attend their first training seminar on land. Saturday 21 August The participants of the first session leave Larnaca. The 17 Peace Sailors of the second session embark on board of the Black Knight and the boat sails off at 09 pm towards Gaza. Sunday 22 August First day at sea for the Peace Sailors; Continuation of negotiations with Israeli authorities. Monday 23 August The Black Knight arrives in Ashdod. The Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak takes the personal decision to allow the boat to anchor in the restrictive zone between the Israeli territorial waters and the Palestinian fishing zone. Tuesday 24 August Negotiations continue with Palestinian authorities on the proposal already accepted by Israeli Prime Minister. Wednesday 25 August Negotiations resume with Palestinian Authority to allow Palestinian fishing boats to embark the Peace Sailors at the meeting point agreed jointly with Israeli authorities. The leadership of the Peace Cruise receives no official reply. The Black Knight is parked from 1700hrs to 1830hrs at the meeting point proposed to the Israeli and Palestinian authorities. Thursday 26 August The leadership of the Peace Cruise is informed that President Arafat also accepts the proposal earlier agreed by Ehud Barak. However negotiations resume in the afternoon. Palestinian authorities request that the boat symbolically passes the fishing zone, which forces the Black Knight to sail back without entering Gaza. Friday 27 August The Black Knight heads off to Limassol (Cyprus) Saturday 28 August The Black Knight stops for some technical maintenance in the port of Limassol. Sunday 29 August The boat head off to Antalya (Turkey). Monday 30 August The boat arrives in Antalya at the end of the afternoon. Participants of session three arrive in Antalya. Tuesday 31 August The Peace Sailors of the second session make the assessment of their trip. The 24 Peace Sailors of the third session coming from 12 Mediterranean countries get to know their 3 trainers (Finland, Greece, Spain) and attend their first training session on land. Wednesday 1 September The Turkish Association for Maritime Environmental Protection organises a reception in honour of the Peace Sailors. The Black Knight leaves Antalya in the early evening. Thursday 2 September First day at sea for the 24 new Peace Sailors. The boat puts in at a small island off the Turkish coast. Friday 3 September The boat sailed off to Rhodes where it is expected to arrive on the evening. Saturday 4 September The Peace Sailors visit the island of Rhodes. Sunday 5 September The Black Knight heads off to Lesbos. Day at sea. Tuesday 7 September Day at sea. Training sessions continue on board the Black Knight. Wednesday 8 September Day at sea. The Black Knight sails through the Dardanelles Straight and enters the Marmara Sea. Participants of leg 4 arrive in Istanbul. Thurday 9 September The Black Knight arrives in the harbour of Istanbul at 12.00. The Peace Sailors visit the historic centre of Istanbul. They attend a Youth forum about the role of Youth Organisations on Reconciliation, Peace and Humanitarian disasters at the Olympic House of Istanbul. Saturday 11 September The Black Knight embarks the 22 Peace Sailors of leg 4 and their 4 Trainers and heads off to Thessaloniki (Greece). Sunday 12 September Day at sea The director of the Peace Cruise presents the diploma of the Peace Cruise to Mr. Ali Case Akiüz, vice-governor of Istanbul. The city of Istanbul is officially declared "Haven of Peace". Emre Ersen, Peace Sailor, presents him the statue of Zenon offered by the city of Larnaca (Cyprus) with a message of peace. The Black Knight arrives late at night in the harbour of Thessaloniki. Tuesday 14 September On the occasion of the launch of the International Year of the Culture of Peace, the Peace Sailors officially present the The Peace Cruise Declaration to the Secretary General of the United-Nations, to the Director General of Unesco, to the President of the European Union, to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, to the Secretary General of the Arab League. Through a visio-conference, the Peace Sailors address the The Peace Cruise Declaration to Mr. Federico Mayor, Director General of Unesco, and share their experience on board the Black Knight. Federico Mayor officially declares the Peace Sailors "Ambassadors of Peace". The Peace Sailors participate in a Peace Event in the harbour of Thessaloniki. Wednesday 15 September The Black Kight heads off to Piraeus (Greece), last stop-over of the Peace Cruise. Thursday 16 September Day at sea. Friday 17 September Day at sea. Saturday 18 September Day at sea. Sunday 19 September The Black Knight arrives in Piraeus. Monday 20 September The Peace Sailors spend the day in Vari at the Soma Hellinidon Odigon Centre (Greek Guide Association) to continue with their training session. Tuesday 21 Septembre The Peace Sailors of leg 4 make an evaluation of their stay on board the Black Knight. They meet the Partners' Committee. The Peace Sailors visit Athens. A Peace Event in Piraeus gathers the Peace Sailors and Greek young people. Thursday 23 September The Peace Sailors say goodbye to the Peace Cruise and leave for their countries.
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