Erdogan says Turkey seeks to clear up 'misunderstandings' with Gulf states
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the remarks ahead of a two-day visit to Qatar.
Turkey will work to improve relations with the Gulf and clear up any “misunderstandings,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday ahead of his two-day trip to Qatar.
Erdogan will meet this week with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as part of the seventh Qatar-Turkey Supreme Strategic Committee. Joining Erdogan on the trip to Doha are Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and the country’s Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan.
"We're strengthening relations with all Gulf countries, open to dialogue to clear any misunderstandings and hoping to cement our unity with the Gulf," Erdogan told reporters before leaving for Qatar, according to TRT.
Turkey supported Qatar in its feud with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, who in June 2017 severed ties with gas-rich Qatar. The Saudi-led bloc, which has accused their neighbor of funding terrorism and growing too close to Iran and Turkey, ended its blockade on Qatar in January.
