The dire consequences for greeces economy as athens seeks another hand out marking the centennial. We have no fear or worries on the subject. Our ancestors did not per cent cue. On the 100 Year Anniversary of the massacre of armenians president Recep Tayyip Erdogan stand firm denying genocide good evening, im more. This is al jazeera america. We begin with president obamas admission of a fatal mistake. Confirming that american hostage Warren Weinstein died in january during a drone strike targetting al qaeda. It also killed giovanni lo porto. President obama did not sign off on the operation but defended the legality saying it targeted an al qaeda compound and hundreds of hours of surveillance found no evidence that hostages were present. Two more were killed, they were senior al qaeda officials. Patty culhane has more from washington. Reporter the u. S. Government rarely acknowledges drone strikes in pakistan and afghanistan. I want to express grieve and condolences. Reporter now the u. S. President is apologising for two, because two were killed. Warren weinstein and giovanni lo porto, aid workers held hostage by al qaeda for years. As president and commander and chief i take full responsibility for all Counterterrorism Operations including the one that inadvertently took the lives of warren and giovani. I regret what happened. On behalf of the United States government i offer deepest apologies to the pamfamilies. The Warren Weinstein pushed the president to do more to gain his release, saying this. No Soldiers Left behind what about a citizens. He needs to be with his family he deserves to come home. After hearing the news of his death, the family released a statement saying al qaeda what is responsible but wept on to criticize the u. S. Government saying in making the announcement the president didnt speak about the other two lead al qaeda leaders, and another indicted in the u. S. For treason after voting videos online. We should look for target epitomizing western decka dance immorality and aithies. Reporter the white house said the al qaeda operatives were not targeted and did not know about the hostages. Civil liberties say it points to a bigger problem. On the one hand you have claims of high confidence and on the other hand you have fill jan casualties that has been and. That calls into question the standards used and the reliability of the intelligence that is used to carry out the lethal force programme. Reporter its a programme that independent experts say killed thousands, including hundreds of incident civilians. The president is not promising a review of the drone programme, but says the American People will know, in this case what went wrong, and why the two civilians were killed. Mike viqueira joins us from washington. The white house says the president did not personally sign off on the strikes that killed the aid workers and the two affiliated with al qaeda. Is the fact that he didnt sign off unusual or normal procedure . Well its normal procedure. Unless of course the president knew that they were americans under the gun if you will that were going to be the tarts of the strikes. The president would have signed off. There has been controversial issues and a debate. In yemen, for example, the american who was instrumental on the Arismendy Alcantara peninsula. That the president had to sign off. These are the protocols set forth, including a key speech at National DefenseUniversity Last week. The white house says the president did not sign off on the attack for the reasons we stated. Nevertheless he is apologising for what happened for the killing of the two captives but not the killing of the two other individuals that the white house alleged to be part of al qaeda. Short on the details is the white house. They are not talking about the nature of the attack. Whether it was a drone aircraft. Sources say it was a drone attack. They are not talking about the time line. This took place in january. They said that in the weeks after that they had indications, intelligence indications. Keep in mind its a remote area near the afghan pakistan border a detail they will not get specific on. It took a long time three months for them to get confirmation that it was dr Warren Weinstein, and the italian giovanni lo porto. The president appeared in the Briefing Room making his apology, sombre almost contrite. Here is a little more of what he had to say. The family itself is as Patty Culhane pointed out, critical in a sense of the administration for not doing as much as they can to communicate with hostage families, coordinate with the families, the longstanding policy of the United States is not to pay ransom. Theres a lot of frustration about that as well. Also not holding the administration completely responsible, saying ultimately it was the captives who killed Warren Weinstein and they are responsible the bureau of Investigative Journalism keeps statistics on the use of drone attacks by the u. S. Around the world. There has been 415 streaks in pakistan killing between 2500 and 4,000 people, including 960 civilians. In yemen, up to 111 confirmed strikes, and possibly 92 more. The death toll ranges from 436 to as high as 646, with up to 96 civilian deaths. There has been at least nine drone attacks in somali which killed up to 105 people, possibly five civilians. In afghanistan there has been six strikes that kill up to 93 people, perhaps one civilian. Earlier we spoke with jack soourl a data journalist from the covert drone war team. We asked about the drone strike and how he and the organization track the casualties. We draw our data from as wide a variety of sources as possible. Open sources. Media reports, n. G. O. And information that come out in court cases through discovery, and also through secret documents leaked to us and other journalists that are published for us all to see. Despite the attack have the Higher Standards that now need to be met to order a drone strike decreased the numbers killed. Its hard to say. It remains before this afternoon. It was a fundamental secret programme. Its being prosecuted in different theatres of combat. In pakistan, actually five months before the highest standards were announced. Confirmed civilian casualties were halted. It appeared at least. Where is in yemen, in the months after the announcement by president obama and his speech there was a Major International terrorist alert. The United States shut a large number of embassies in africa and the middle east and carried out about 10 drone strikes in yemen in the space of 1415 days. There were about 30 killed. A number were civilians, including children. It seems like the drone strikes may be killing fewer casualties but the regulations and policies are more flexible than one might be led to believe. Lets assume a decision was made to never use drones again. If troops are used to go after i. S. I. L. Alshabab, and taliban leaders, wouldnt we face the likelihood of greater casualties, of troops and civilians. Youd have cross fire of battles . Im not sure we can draw that judgment. It would make the job of hunting the journalists exponentially more difficult, specifically in the mountains of pakistans tribal areas. It doesnt have to be a zero sum gape. You have drones or troops. Theres a deeper issue at hand which is why they are ungovernable and why they are allowed to proliferate. In the end do you think the problems of protecting civilians is an issue of getting the right intelligencers rather than the drones. The relations of social norms means that women and children will be sequestered indoors, out of sight of drones. You can see how a pattern of life attack could cause more civilian casualties than intended because the drone operators, and intelligence analysts and screeners cant see the people in the house. Its an interesting demonstration of policy and practice where in afghanistan, where the u. S. Carried out drone strikes, they stopped targetting buildings. The u. S. And the u. K. Flew drones during the war, were stopped from targetting buildings, unless they were absolutely certain there werent civilians indoors, because it increased the risk of civilian casualties, which were politically unacceptable. Good to have you with us, thank you u. S. Led Coalition Strikes pound i. S. I. L. 21 strikes were carried out since yesterday, 16 in iraq, five in syria, a Human Rights Group released a report on thursday on the syrian air campaign. 2,0 79 people have been killed. The enormous majority of those killed belong to i. S. I. L. 66 were civilian casualties. Defense secretary ash carter went to Silicon Valley to unveil the Cyber Security strategy. Carter revealed that Russian Hackers were able to access an Unclassified Defense Department network this year before they got kicked out. Carter said the u. S. Military is willing to use cyber warfare. Adversaries should know our presents for deterrence and posture dont diminish the use of cyber options. We operate under rules of engagement that comply with international and domestic law. Carter is reaching out to High Tech Companies in Silicon Valley for help in countering the threat. A flotilla of iranianships suspected of bearing arms reversed course. Officials said the ships appeared to be heading home. The u. S. Dispatched warships to the area this week to monitor the movements of the iranian convoy. Photos showing two warships and several smaller vessels. The fighting is not stopping in yemen, despite calls for talks. Saudiled forces launched a series of air strikes. Supporters of the exiled president say its not the time to slow down assaults on iranian backed rebels. Reporter before the war aden was a busy city. Tents now rumble through the streets. These men are loyal to the president in the exile. They support the saudiled campaign to restore him to power. We urge you to continue your operation, because it is what kicked out the houthis, and we in the south, we salute damage. Outside old sanaa, cars have been hit. People search for their things, some blame the politicians. What is happening is the humanitarian crisis. Homes that are destroyed, and the victims are a result of what the politicians have done to yemen. In taiz where long lines form for food a political solution seems a long way off. Saudi arabia says it endeds first phase of Operation Decisive storm. Its replaced with operation renewal of hope. With more than 150,000 people forced out of their homes by the fighting every day theres struggle and no sign that saudi arabia is about to end its war in yemen the plan to tackle europes migrant crisis next. E. U. Hold an emergency summit following the deaths on the sea. The massacre of unarmed civilians, allegedly by the police. In context the Europeans Parliament emergency summit to stem the tide of immigrants making the dangerous journey across the mediterranean. Tens of thousands made the trip. 1700 died on their way. Laurence lee reports from brussels, on the quest to find a solution. These are the bodies of the very few lost to the mediterranean recovered. Laid to rest in malta. The deaths prompted a re think of europe about its commitment to humanitarian obligations on the southern border. Outside the moting the coffin was the mott if for protesters, outraged that people have been left to die in the sea, close to rich countries. Translation they should give refuge to all of them families with children included. Reporter many of the people complained of a lack of basic rights in belgium where they managed to resettle. The crisis in the mediterranean brought the grievances ahead. Theres Something Else here as well and its this. These campaigners see in the tragedy, in the mediterranean, an opportunity to force leaders to change their policies on immigration. Reporter as they gathered in brussels the message coming loud and clear was the priority was to stop getting people on the boat in the first place. The french president said hed go to the United Nations to attack boats. And the budget for the border force would be tripled. It can rescue peep. The main purpose is to stop them getting into europe. They have agreed to triple the resources. The Border Mission in the central mediterranean, and house the mandate. It will carry out the mandate and response to distress calls are necessary. Im hope to announce leaders pledged greater support, including minimal vessels and aircraft. Lots of groups wonder about europe resettling them at risk. Theres less commitment to that. Its important to change the narrative and make the policy humane, to stop criticising the utilities. Racial profiling, chasing undocumented migrants. All the policies need to be addressed. The approach is wrong. Many of the leaders cape an eye on elections and public opinion, have to say they want to stop the deaths but keep the migrants out. The e. U. Wants this to stop. The walls are getting higher. And for more on the European Council summit. We spoke to a member of the European Parliament for malta, and she joined us by skype and we asked what she thought of summit and outcome. Its positive to have an increase in budget and assets. My question is whether this is enough and im saying this particularly since it is known, the extent. That would be covered. More so since most of the tragedies are happening near the libyan coast. I dont know as yet whether the operation triton and others will cover the extent and stretch, and whether theyd be arriving up to the libyan coast. If they do in the arrive there, im afraid the main aim that this point will be addressing might not give us the result that we want part of the plan is to stop smugglers. How will that work. Given the crisis that exist in syria, eritrea, somali libya wont migrant trying to figure out other ways to get to europe. That will happen. That was one of the main bones of contention because, okay, you can smugglers in a particular country but i am sure that smugglers will find other routes ways and means. A big issue is the sharing of responsibility among the southern european countries, and the Northern European countries which had better benefits. Thats where many wanted to go to. Once the migrants managed to make it safely to europe what happens a lot of the nerves they are seeing an antiimmigrant backlash. Could the flood of immigrants exacerbate that problem. What we saw from the conclusions, what the council is saying organising emergency relocation between all Member States on a voluntary basis, and what we have seen so far is that when you do something of the sort on a volunteer basis. It was not the result that we want. It was mentioned a pilots process on resettlement i would have wanted to see something. We were promised action after the tragedy. Is the only hope to do something about this in the countries where the migrants are coming from but is that realistic, because are the issues that are causing the refugee crisis from the north african and american countries, will they go away soon. They are not going to go soon, but, yes, it is realistic. Its not a short of term solution. The problem is that we have people fleeing countries because of instability, because of poverty and because of war, and until we have the countries in this situation, we will still have migrants who want to flee the country. And in this regard i was glad to see this African Union and e. U. Summit bound to happen in malta. It is one step in the right direction to start addressing the problem. Because dialogue and speaking with the countries is one of the main issues that needs to be addressed, as having development, and having also Development Programs which address specifically the african countries, north african countries and countries in the horn of africa. They are things we need to look into, and we want to solve the issue. I agree its not going to happen. We have to start somewhere. It will not happen overnight the deaths of hundreds of migrants shocked the conference. Many italians have not done enough. Paul brennan reports from sicily where many have little faith in the emergency summit. As they sweep into brussels a Different Group of people was making a different arrival at catania on sicily. The influx of hundred of men, women and children fleeing connick, hardship putting strain on the coastal towns of italy. Ask around and you find genuine contempt for the policy makers of the european union. Translation its europe and the italian depositgovernments response. His friend is angrier. The migrants are running way way to stay alive. Why didnt the politicians do that before now. Palermo on the northern coast received thousands of migrants. Will the summit in brussels have any effect at all. Translation to be honest i dont have faith in the summits i dont think it changes anything. Theres a tragedy 1. 5 years ago nothing would have changed. There is a sense hear that on migration, the e. U. Leaders are barely tackling the symptoms never mind the root causes. They try to stop those trafficking, the immigrants. Okay. The shipwrecks and sinkings which people can only read about in newspapers. Here in sicily are experienced up close, making it cynical. The pressure, for example, are having to deal with 70,000 migrants. And the dismay and distress caused by having to retrieve and bury those that dont make it across. The International Maritime agency predebts half a million risk their lives. There could be 10,000 poem that die in the attempt. It will be the italians in the m