Erdogan: to prolong the crisis in the Gulf is “in the interest of anyone”

AFP

AFP

Sunday, 23 July, 2017 04:37

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Sunday, 23 July, 2017 04:37

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ISTANBUL, Turkey | The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been estimated Sunday that an extension of the Gulf crisis was “in the interest of anyone”, before doing a tour in the region to try to ease tensions between saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“It is not in the interest of anyone that this crisis is prolonged further (…) The muslim world needs cooperation and solidarity, no new divisions,” said Erdogan during a press conference in Istanbul before flying to Riyadh.

Mr. Erdogan moves Sunday in saudi Arabia and then in Kuwait, before heading Monday to Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, the united arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have broken the 5 June with Qatar, which they accuse of supporting the “terrorism” and closer to Iran, a rival regional to the kingdom of saudi arabia.

“From the first moments of the crisis of Qatar, we have been on the side of peace, stability, solidarity and dialogue. We have made the necessary proposals to the parties, and continue to do so,” said Erdogan.

The Turkish president has also indicated that it supported the mediation of the emir of Kuwait, sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, calling on other countries in the region and the international community to provide “strong support” to the efforts of his “brother”.

Since the beginning of the crisis, Ankara tries to play the role of mediator between the different parties, but its position unambiguously in favor of Qatar has reduced its freedom of action, feel many analysts.

Turkey is a close ally of Qatar, with whom relations have developed strongly in recent years, the economic, diplomatic and security. Ankara has a military base in the emirate gas.

But Turkey has at the same time good relations with saudi Arabia, the heavyweight of the Gulf monarchies.

Mr Erdogan has emphasized Saturday that saudi Arabia’s king, Salman, had an “important role” to play as the “dean of the region”.

According to the news agency, pro-government Turkish Anadolu, Erdogan must lunch on Sunday with king Salman before an interview in the afternoon. Then it will be received in Kuwait by the emir Al-Sabah in the evening.

On Monday, he will meet with Qatar’s emir of the State sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.