Turkey ready to join a unified Muslim statement against JASTA

Turkey ready to join a unified Muslim statement against JASTA

October 07, 2016
Turkey ready to join a unified Muslim statement against JASTA
Turkey ready to join a unified Muslim statement against JASTA

Fatima Muhammad

By Fatima Muhammad


JEDDAH — Turkey blamed Fethullah Gulen and his party for their attempted coup d'état that was crushed by the government, which considers the party as a terrorist group.

Turkish Minister of Development Lutfi Alwan said Thursday during his visit to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry that Turkey denounces the adoption of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) by the US Congress, and its subsequent override of President Barack Obama’s veto.

He added that they are ready to join other Muslim states if they issue a unified statement against JASTA following their foreign ministers meeting expected to be organized by the end of this month.

He explained that the actions of a few terrorists cannot be pinned on one state and noted that this goes against the international laws on sovereignty and will not be accepted.

"If we assume that some European or US citizens commit a terrorist act shall we then put the blame on their states? That is something that the mind does not accept!"

Alwan called on the Kingdom to take measures against Turkish individuals, who, according to information received by Turkey, are supporting Gulen and are based in certain cities of the Kingdom like Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

He elaborated that these individuals tend to deceive Turkish pilgrims and provide them with wrong information and propaganda. "Saudi Arabia should take measures against these false claims."

The minister and his accompanying delegation were here following a number of ministerial meetings in Riyadh. During their visit the delegation aims to boost the investment collaboration between the two states. “We are here to enhance the cooperation between the two countries,” he said.

We have finalized number of meetings with two ministries in Riyadh and we have met with businessmen in Riyadh. No doubt that another goal of this visit, aside from economic cooperation, is to find ways to enhance cooperation in every sector,” he added.

“I mentioned that the political relation between the two countries is excellent and the governments are doing their best to boost economic cooperation. Therefore it is left in the hands of businessmen to enhance our relations and economic cooperation,” he said.

“The cooperation is not restricted to investment but extends to different sectors. We have expertise in different capacities and we want to open joint factories in the health sector, petrochemical for we have tech knowhow and Saudi Arabia has raw materials, and the businessmen are keen to have cooperation on all sectors and at all levels,” he added.


October 07, 2016
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