Minister Fidan on 'UN veto': 'The US is isolated on Gaza'

Foreign Minister Fidan made statements following his meeting with his American counterpart Antony Blinken as part of his Washington contacts with members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League Contact Group.

Minister Fidan stated that the Gaza Contact Group expressed the tragedy unfolding in Gaza in all its nakedness during the meeting with Blinken, and that they were the voice and interpreter of the global public's outrage on this issue.

Fidan said, "The members of the Contact Group repeatedly underlined that the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza must end immediately and that Israel must stop killing innocent people."

THE US VETO

Touching upon the draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which was voted on at the United Nations Security Council yesterday and vetoed by the US, Fidan remarked, "Our friends expressed once again, especially in the voting held at the United Nations today, that America is now isolated on this issue (Gaza)."

Pointing out that the entire global public will evaluate the fact that the draft resolution, submitted with the sponsorship of 97 out of 193 member countries, was vetoed by the US, Fidan said, "Of course, we see this here, and we expressed it in our meetings today; the American political system is now helpless on issues related to Israel. Therefore, Israel is acting recklessly on this matter and continuing its oppression."

Noting that the Contact Group will continue its work on Gaza without interruption, Minister Fidan stated that they will continue to be the voice of the global public's sentiments on this issue.

Reminding that they will move on to Canada after the US to meet with the Canadian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Fidan added that they will subsequently visit some of the Nordic countries.

"THERE IS NO TOLERANCE LEFT"

Fidan expressed the following:

"We are bringing our position regarding the situation in Gaza to the agenda of our American counterparts very clearly. We have expressed to them (the US) the seriousness of the situation here, that there is no tolerance left, and what steps need to be taken in this regard, by underlining them in a very clear manner."

Stating that they also discussed the issue of Sweden's NATO membership during his meeting with Blinken, Fidan said, "Our position here is clear, of course; there are issues we have been working on following the trilateral summit where our President and the Swedish Prime Minister were present as a result of the negotiations held within NATO," and emphasized that the final decision rests with the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.