Turkey is ready to assist Saudi Arabia if needed in response to continued attacks by Yemen's Houthis, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said, citing cooperation under the Mecca Agreement framework.
Speaking to NTV on Saturday, Fidan said Saudi Arabia could face military requirements as a result of the attacks.
“We see that there are very serious attacks against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia. We have an alliance agreement within the framework of our agreement. We are in serious solidarity at this point... They may have some military needs, especially on certain technical issues. We would have no problem meeting them,” Fidan said.
Patience running thin
The Turkish foreign minister said it was unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to become involved in the US-Iran conflict, noting that Riyadh did not wish to be drawn into the confrontation.
He added, without providing details, that proposals aimed at ending the fighting had been conveyed to all sides.
“There are many initiatives, but the parties must accept them,” he said.
“There are new proposals, and I hope they will accept them. Otherwise, the crisis had been tolerated up to a certain point, but the economic consequences have begun to go beyond the point of tolerance,” he added.
Greco-Turkish relations
Turning to relations between Turkey and Greece, Fidan said opposition parties in Greece frequently use Turkey as a tool to attack the government.
He argued that Turkey's political scene did not operate in the same way and said Greece should not conduct policy from such a narrow perspective.
On disputes in the Aegean Sea, Fidan said Turkey's position remained unchanged.
“First of all, our position is clear: until the issues in the Aegean, including the continental shelf issue, are resolved, we are not in favour of creating tensions. We do not under any circumstances accept the militarisation of islands that have demilitarised status. We are undertaking very careful and persistent initiatives on this issue,” he said.
Fidan said numerous efforts had been made away from the public spotlight, as public discussion of the issue could create difficulties in Greece.
“This region needs peace, not armaments. We have stated this repeatedly. War serves nobody's interests. What matters is peace,” he said.
Fidan said Greece was heading into an election period and anti-Turkish rhetoric could continue, but Ankara was closely monitoring developments both in practice and at the official level.
He also said the Turkish armed forces were highly sensitive to the issue and expressed hope that no one would take a reckless step.
Fidan warned that if Greece attempted what he described as unreasonable or adventurous actions, Turkey's seriousness and strength were well known to all.
Source: CNA
