Fidan, Saudi FM Hold Joint News Conference in Istanbul

Istanbul, The Gulf Observer: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to peace in the region, highlighting the importance of ongoing negotiations between Syria and Türkiye. His remarks were made on Sunday during a joint news conference in Istanbul with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, who is currently visiting Türkiye.

Fidan emphasized the significance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for peace in neighboring Syria, urging all parties to heed this appeal. He clarified that Ankara’s position on the Syrian opposition remains unchanged, despite the ongoing negotiations.

In light of President Erdogan’s recent statements, Fidan confirmed that Turkish diplomats, including himself, are working towards a possible presidential meeting between Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Such a meeting would be the first in over a decade, marking a significant development in the regional diplomatic landscape.

Addressing the issue of ceasefire talks between the Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Israel, Fidan expressed concerns over Israel’s perception of Hamas accepting ceasefire conditions as a sign of “weakness” or “surrender.” He described this stance as “highly dangerous” and emphasized the necessity of increasing international pressure on Israel, a sentiment echoed by President Erdogan.

The news conference underscored Türkiye’s proactive diplomatic efforts aimed at fostering stability and peace in the region, as well as its ongoing commitment to supporting dialogue and negotiations.