Turkey said it would not remain silent regarding the Saudi and Emirati siege imposed on Yemen, in the first clear criticism to the two Gulf states since the war on the Arab impoverished country started in March 2015.
“Turkey supports Oman’s mediation efforts and has made contact with Iran, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told the parliament’s planning and budget commission on Wednesday.
“It disapproves the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s policies of besieging all the people in Yemen,” the top Turkish diplomat said, adding: “Lots of people are dying there of hunger and disease, and we won’t keep mum (regarding this).”
He pointed out that his country has provided significant support with regard to Yemen’s crisis, and expressed his firm commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to Yemenis.
“We have sent two field inspectors to Yemen,” he said. “Unfortunately, we are encountering many difficulties in delivering humanitarian assistance, and we must keep on sending hundreds of tons of food aid and medicines to Yemen,” he added.
Yemen has been since March 2015 under brutal aggression by Saudi-led Coalition, in a bid to restore control to fugitive president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi who is Riyadh’s ally.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed and injured in the strikes launched by the coalition, with the vast majority of them are civilians.
The coalition, which includes in addition to Saudi Arabia and UAE: Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan and Kuwait, has been also imposing a harsh blockade against Yemenis.
Int’l Investigation into Khashoggi Murder
Elsewhere in his Wednesday’s remarks, the Turkish FM called for an international investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct 2.
Cavusoglu told the parliament’s commission that international investigation is a must and “Turkey will do whatever it takes to clarify all aspects of this murder.”
Turkey has conducted a transparent process and the whole world has admitted it, Cavusoglu noted.
Source: Turkish Media
