Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown of Saudi Arabia, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, held in Riyadh a meeting with Turkish National Defense Minister, Fikri Isik, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkey, particularly in the defensive side, as well as the latest developments in the Middle East region and the joint efforts in the fight against terrorism. The meeting was attended by a number of officials.
Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey received in Ankara the Saudi Foreign Minister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.
Earlier, Al-Jubeir also was received by Turkish Prime Minister Ben Ali Yildirim. The meeting discussed a number of regional issues and was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Turkey Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji, and a number of officials.
“There is a constructive cooperation at present between the two countries in all fields as we are seeking to enhance this cooperation to become able to cooperate to overcome the challenges facing the region in a way that contribute to security and peace stability in the region and serves the interests of the two countries as well as the international peace,” the Saudi Foreign Minister said.
Al-Jubeir also said that there is identical points of view between the two countries as regards the Palestinian issue and the importance of finding a solution according to international resolutions, Libyan issue, confronting terrorism and extremism as well as the illegal interference in the affairs of other countries in addition to the wish of the two counties in intensifying cooperation, particularly in the military and security fields.
He emphasized that the position towards Syria is also absolutely identical with Turkey’s as the two countries have participated in establishing the so-called Syria’s Friends Group which attracted ten supporting countries of Syrian moderate-opposition.
Our position is to preserve the unity of Syria, its security and stability to enable the Syrian people to start with a free state that achieves their aspirations, Al-Jubeir said.
He called for solving the Syrian crisis according to Geneva 1 conference based on establishing a transitional power, instate ceasefire throughout the country, and create access for humanitarian assistance, noting that the Iranian interference and Hezbollah are the main obstacles derailing a peaceful solution from being reached.
But we are going to work with the international community to support Syria to apply Geneva I declaration and the UN Security Council resolution No. 2254, he said, adding that Astana talks would hopefully lead to an agreement on a mechanism leading to ceasefire and another to allow the entrance of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Syria.
As for security cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkey, he said cooperation is now there and the Kingdom is supporting Turkish efforts facing terrorism while Turkey supports the efforts of the Kingdom in the fight against terror.
He added that “we believe that there are terrorist organizations operating in Turkey against the Turkish state and we support any effort to wipe out terror organizations anywhere in the world. If you say terrorism is in Syria, we have also talked about Daesh, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the constituting countries of the international alliance to confront Daesh in Syria and the Saudi Royal Air Force is launching continuous operations over the Syrian air skies targeting terrorist organizations there.”
“We are looking forward to U.S. President Donald Trump administration to work together to intensify efforts to demolish Daesh and work with other sisterly countries, led by Turkey, in this field,” he concluded.
