Erdogan: We want to cooperate with the Gulf, and reconciliation is a blessed step

On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan praised the Gulf reconciliation, expressing his hope to develop cooperation with the Cooperation Council.

In a statement after performing Friday prayers in one of Istanbul’s mosques, he explained that the division of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries was not a positive development for the Gulf.

He stressed that reaching a reconciliation agreement in the Gulf is a correct decision, and a blessed step.

Erdogan expressed his hope to promote cooperation between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council, stressing that this would enhance regional cooperation.

During a meeting of the foreign ministers of Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Ankara signed a memorandum of understanding with the Council to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism, in early September 2008.

The strategic dialogue mechanism has paved the way for deepening relations in the political and cultural fields as well as in the economic field between the two sides.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes relations between Turkey and the GCC countries on an institutional basis.

Turkey is the first country to establish such a mechanism with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Last Monday, Saudi Arabia announced the reopening of its airspace and its sea and land ports with Qatar, one day before a summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council held in the Saudi city of Al-Ula, Tuesday, with the participation of the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The summit resulted in the signing of a reconciliation agreement that ended the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt on Doha, which lasted for more than three and a half years.

On Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced that the agreement provides for a complete restoration of relations between the four countries with Qatar.

Source: Anadolu Agency