Turkish foreign minister says Israel’s demolition of a historic hotel in east Jerusalem to make way for new settler homes is unacceptable. The minister and his Saudi Arabian counterpart, who is in Ankara to discuss regional issues, also urge Lebanon to keep its unity government intact after Hezbollah and its allies threaten to walk out
 Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal (L) and his Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoğlu, shake hands after a news conference in Ankara. Daily News photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ. |
Israel’s demolition of a historic hotel in east Jerusalem to make way for new settler homes is unacceptable, Turkey’s foreign minister said Wednesday, adding that the world needs to show a reaction to the country’s actions.
“We have a clear stance. The demolition in east Jerusalem is unacceptable,” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said at a news conference in Ankara with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia, Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
Davutoğlu said the international community should also react to the Israeli actions.
“East Jerusalem is a Palestinian territory and it will continue to remain so,” he said, adding that its Muslim-Arab identity could not be altered and inviting the international community to adopt a principled approach. “Double standards cannot be accepted.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel's demolition of the historic hotel in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, slamming it as a "serious blow" to peace efforts.
“We cannot remain silent,” said Davutoğlu, adding that peace processes in the Middle East had stalled due to the Israeli settlement policy.
Al-Faisal, in response to the same question about the Israeli settlement policy, said the demolition showed Israel was not taking positive steps on peace.
“If what happened in Palestine was done by any other country, the international reactions would be different. Unfortunately, double standards are continuing,” said Al-Faisal, accusing Israel of pursuing tough policies that were not internationally legitimate.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Lebanon, as news agencies reporting from Beirut said Lebanon’s unity government appeared set to collapse Wednesday after the powerful Hezbollah organization and its allies threatened to leave the coalition over a U.N. probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
Davutoğlu said he was updated by the developments about Lebanon while he was in Yemen early this week and spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the phone as well as with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Muallem. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also reportedly spoke with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“Turkey is giving full support to the joint initiative of Syria and Saudi Arabia,” said Davutoğlu, adding that the two countries’ initiative was the most important foundation for peace in Lebanon.
“We hope Lebanon continues to proceed on its path with a stable government. We will do our best for the conflict to be settled,” he said.
Al-Faisal said a resignation of government members in Lebanon would lead to division and hamper stability just when the country was in need of unity. “That would be a big danger for the Middle East.”
“We have a clear stance. The demolition in east Jerusalem is unacceptable,” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said at a news conference in Ankara with his counterpart from Saudi Arabia, Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
Davutoğlu said the international community should also react to the Israeli actions.
“East Jerusalem is a Palestinian territory and it will continue to remain so,” he said, adding that its Muslim-Arab identity could not be altered and inviting the international community to adopt a principled approach. “Double standards cannot be accepted.”
The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel's demolition of the historic hotel in East Jerusalem on Tuesday, slamming it as a "serious blow" to peace efforts.
“We cannot remain silent,” said Davutoğlu, adding that peace processes in the Middle East had stalled due to the Israeli settlement policy.
Al-Faisal, in response to the same question about the Israeli settlement policy, said the demolition showed Israel was not taking positive steps on peace.
“If what happened in Palestine was done by any other country, the international reactions would be different. Unfortunately, double standards are continuing,” said Al-Faisal, accusing Israel of pursuing tough policies that were not internationally legitimate.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in Lebanon, as news agencies reporting from Beirut said Lebanon’s unity government appeared set to collapse Wednesday after the powerful Hezbollah organization and its allies threatened to leave the coalition over a U.N. probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
Davutoğlu said he was updated by the developments about Lebanon while he was in Yemen early this week and spoke with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on the phone as well as with his Syrian counterpart, Walid al-Muallem. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also reportedly spoke with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“Turkey is giving full support to the joint initiative of Syria and Saudi Arabia,” said Davutoğlu, adding that the two countries’ initiative was the most important foundation for peace in Lebanon.
“We hope Lebanon continues to proceed on its path with a stable government. We will do our best for the conflict to be settled,” he said.
Al-Faisal said a resignation of government members in Lebanon would lead to division and hamper stability just when the country was in need of unity. “That would be a big danger for the Middle East.”
No comments:
Post a Comment