Öncü Keçeli, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, evaluated the important points regarding the visits that reflect the intense diplomatic activities carried out by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan recently.
Spokesperson Keçeli stated that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held more than 70 bilateral meetings in total, including the Munich Security Conference held on 16-18 February, his visits to Venezuela and Mexico, the Antalya Diplomatic Forum held between 29 February and 3 March, and his subsequent visit to the US. Thus, he announced that, Fidan met with one-third of the member countries of the United Nations in the last month.
The highlights of Türkiye’s recent diplomatic activities are as follows:
The topic of terrorism discussed with the US
Clear messages were given to the United States about PKK/YPG and FETO. It was stated that it is never acceptable for an allied country to cooperate with terrorist organizations targeting the security of our country. And it was stated that the biggest obstacle to further deepening of Türkiye-US strategic relations is the US support for YPG. During their meetings with the US, the issue of fighting against DAESH was also discussed and it was agreed to hold regular consultations at the technical level on the fight against terrorism.
Call for peace negotiations for the Ukraine-Russia war
Fidan also discussed The Ukraine-Russia war during his meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Türkiye argues that peace negotiations should be resumed when favorable conditions are created for both sides, an opinion repeated in Washington. Under this heading, the issue of ensuring navigation safety in the Black Sea was also discussed.
Humanitarian aid formulas for Gaza
Options for delivering aid to Gaza by sea or by air are constantly elaborated; “However”, said Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Keçeli, “It is not an alternative to aid delivered by land, neither in terms of quality nor quantity. Actually, this is not our subjective evaluation, the United Nations and non-governmental organizations specialized in this field also make the same observation.” Fidan gave this message to the Americans in Washington, asking the US to use all its influence on Israel to ensure a ceasefire as soon as possible and to ensure that humanitarian aid enters Gaza in the most effective, fastest and most sustainable way.
Security summit in Iraq
The second Security Summit, which is followed by the one held with Iraq in Ankara in December, will be held in Baghdad on Thursday, March 14, with the participation of top Turkish diplomat Hakan Fidan, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, Head of Turkish National Intelligence İbrahim Kalın and their Iraqi counterparts. Security and military cooperation issues will be the priority agenda items during the talks. Developing a common understanding in the fight against terrorism and concrete steps that can be taken in this direction will be on the table. In the joint statement published at the previous security summit, the parties emphasized that the PKK was a common threat to both countries. Keçeli stated that “they see the definition of the PKK as a common security threat by the Iraqi authorities as a sign that the determination to fight the PKK on the Iraqi side has begun to develop.”
Oil pipeline issue is on the agenda
The Iraq-Türkiye oil pipeline has been closed for almost a year now. Türkiye stated in October that shipments could be started through this pipeline and that there was no problem for Türkiye. However, Spokesperson Keçeli says that it is considered that the Iraqi side is not ready to start the shipment yet.
At today’s security summit in Baghdad, details of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s upcoming visit to Iraq will also be discussed.
Discussions will be held on developing natural gas resources in Iraq and shipping them to international markets. It will also be elaborated how joint projects can be developed in the field of renewable energy in Iraq.
