RIYADH — Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir said on Thursday that door is open to establish better relations with Iran if it adheres to the principles of good neighborliness, as well as non-interference in the internal affairs of other states in the region and not supporting terrorism.
He said that Iran must stop inciting sectarian strife and halt instigating people to rise in rebellion against their governments in the region. Al-Jubeir made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu on the sidelines of the 5th joint Gulf Cooperation Council -Turkey High Level Strategic Dialogue ministerial meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Jubeir warned that Iran should not be reckoned that they are guardians of all those who follow the Shiite ideology. “They have to realize that those who follow the Shiite ideology are also among the citizens of countries such as Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and that Iran has nothing to do with them.”
For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said that the agenda of the meeting included all issues of common interest to both sides. “The ministers discussed the Iraqi issue, particularly with regard to the Iraqi city of Mosul, the unfortunate and tragic situation in Syria, and cooperation with the US and Russian sides to evaluate the issue and the situation,” he said, adding that the ministers also discussed the Iranian role in Syria and its interferences in the region, in addition to the difficult situation in Yemen.
Cavusoglu explained the measures being taken by Turkey to liberate Mosul from Daesh (the so called IS) without having any role for the Shiite militia, which is as dangerous as Daesh. “The presence of both Daesh and the militia will be a catastrophe and hence, Iraq should be supported to rid of both these dangers,” he said. Echoing the same view, Al-Jubeir said that the sectarian militias affiliated to Iran are behind the escalating situations in Iraq and they have had committed ethnic crimes against civilians in several places in Iraq. “Their entry into Mosul will be another humanitarian catastrophe after Fallujah where they had committed grave crimes while killing several innocent people.”
Referring to the GCC–Turkey meeting, Al-Jubeir said that the meeting was fruitful and constructive. “There was a consensus among the ministers on the urgency of boosting relations between the GCC member states and Turkey in all fields and activate all agreements in the interests of both sides and peoples.”
Al-Jubeir said that the meeting discussed a number of issues of common interest and means of cooperation in all fields between GCC countries and Turkey. The talks figured mainly the situations in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as well as the Iranian interference in the neighboring countries and the affairs of the region, he said.
Al-Jubeir stressed that the free trade zone between the GCC countries and Turkey was discussed, in addition to means of enhancing trade, investment and economic relations between the two sides. He also pointed out that the two sides agreed on the preliminary and technical foundations that contribute to an economic and investment ground to facilitate smooth flow of investment and trade exchanges between the two sides.
Cavusoglu thanked the GCC leaders for standing by Turkey during the failed coup bid in Turkey. He also called for creation of a free trade zone between the two sides.
