Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's call to the world regarding Israel

Regarding a question at the Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League held in Doha, Qatar, on "whether the Islamic world and the international community are taking a clear and direct stance against Israeli threats," Fidan replied, "I think the meeting in Doha was a meeting that highlighted Israel's expansionism in the region, recorded this in international meetings, and invited regional countries and the international community to take a stance against it, especially because it was held after Israel attacked another Arab country, not Palestine. I think this is its most important outcome."

Fidan stated, "I think the issues that the leaders came together to discuss and agreed upon in the face of this new development are much more important and numerous than what is reflected in the text."

"WE WILL WORK FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE"

In response to a question about whether Israel's threats to the region are being discussed more than the Gaza or Palestinian cause, Fidan said, "We will continue to stand against and work in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the attempts to annex the West Bank, and we will work for the realization of the State of Palestine. This is indispensable for regional peace. But on the other hand, as regional countries and the international community, we need to put Israel's making expansionism a policy in the region on the table and take measures. This is extremely important."

Fidan said that Israel derives its security from "the political and economic weaknesses and technological backwardness of countries close to it in the region," and finds a regional vision based on equal development, prosperity, and power together with them dangerous for itself.

Noting that Western countries and the US can also take on roles in this policy from time to time, Fidan emphasized that this equation in the region must change.

Minister Fidan assessed, "The fact that it intervenes in the region militarily when it cannot create instability through indirect means has, of course, clearly revealed Israel's intentions at the moment. Israel has now calculated all its risks and transformed regional expansionism into a policy beyond the Palestinian issue. This is, of course, a policy that sensible Israelis oppose. While it is possible for all parties to live together in peace in the region, adopting such an expansionist policy as a strategy in the name of security is dangerous for everyone."

Responding to a question about how Turkey's relations with the US could be used regarding Gaza, Fidan said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spends a large part of his time on international diplomacy, especially to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Fidan said, "There is a reality that has been created in American domestic politics for decades. That reality is the reality of who controls whom and who manages whom. It has emerged in these recent events that, in fact, the United States does not have as much influence over Israel's policies as is thought. Perhaps the opposite is possible."

"WE NEED TO PUT THE ISSUE OF COMMON SECURITY ON THE TABLE"

Responding to a question about the nature of Turkey's relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Fidan emphasized that Turkey is advancing its commercial and political relations with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Minister Fidan said, "But at the point we have reached, there is a reality: the threats in the region are frankly pushing us to talk more about security and to cooperate on this issue. We especially need to cooperate in the defense industry. We also need to talk more about common security issues."

Noting that Turkey has ongoing cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the field of the defense industry, Fidan said that they are also continuing talks with Egypt on this matter.

Fidan stated, "But especially with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, we need to put the issue of common security on the table with regional countries at least as much as the issues of economy, trade, and technology."

"ISRAEL CAN PERCEIVE THE COMMON STANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS A THREAT"

Regarding a question about the current situation in Syria, Fidan said, "Currently, the biggest threat to Syria's stability is a possible Israeli military operation. Israel reveals certain intentions on this matter in advance. If the door to instability in Syria is opened, it will be opened by these expansionist policies of Israel."

Stating that an alliance has formed among regional countries, the European Union (EU), the US, Asian countries, Russia, and China to give the new administration in Syria a chance and work towards stability, Fidan assessed, "It seems Israel, at least the Netanyahu government, can perceive the international community's common stance on this issue as a threat to itself. I hope there will be no negative development on this matter. Because if there is, I believe it will have very serious regional consequences."

Responding to a question about whether international formations such as BRICS, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will play an effective role in the near term, Fidan said, "As you know, the international system unfortunately has a great inadequacy, which was also revealed in the Gaza incident, and it is a system far from responding to the crises that arise. Due to certain preferences and certain power structures."

Fidan expressed that when the war in Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine War, the events shaped around them, possible developments in the Asia-Pacific, and the competition and trade wars in the technology world are collectively evolved, the current system fuels more crises rather than responding to them.

Stating that the role of existing alliances is significant here, Fidan said, "While existing alliances can bring prosperity to their own populations, especially the European Union and America, they can remain inadequate in solving other problems. The structure of the United Nations (UN) organization, especially the Security Council, seems far from solving problems on this issue at the moment."

Reiterating that the UN and the UN Security Council (UNSC) need to be reformed, Minister Fidan assessed, "When these do not happen, it is certain that, as you mentioned, many more regional actors that we cannot name here, such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and ASEAN, will emerge and there will be different searches."

"COOPERATION, NOT DOMINATION"

In his response to a question about whether a common formation that unites Arab and Islamic countries on the basis of security coordination is possible, Fidan said, "I think this can happen. Because when we look at other examples in the world, this is a matter of political system. And also a matter of reaching a common ideal. I think the nation-state structures of many of the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League are now established, their balances are established. Now, an integrated political system can be moved towards from here."

Stating that if the political leaderships of the countries decide on such a thing, it is possible to reach such a vision within a certain systematic, Fidan emphasized that this must be started somewhere.

Underlining that in the region where Turkey is also located, countries must commit to each other's security, regional territorial integrity, and sovereignty, Fidan said, "All countries must be sure of each other. There must be a platform that makes this possible. Later, many economic and security issues can be built on this."

Stating that for many years, conflicts, disagreements, and power struggles within the region's countries have played a role, Fidan pointed to the discourse among Arab countries that "The Turks are coming back, they are pursuing a Neo-Ottoman policy."

Noting that there is talk of either Turkish, Arab, or Persian dominance in the region, Fidan said, "There is always a domination, a 'Who will influence or rule the region' thing. I think this is a very primitive approach. Instead of this, we need to develop cooperation. Not 'domination', but 'cooperation'. Not 'ruling', but 'cooperation'. Everyone's borders are clear, the nation is clear. We respect each other."

Minister Fidan stated that this generation can realize this, and continued as follows:

"If someone else is doing it, we can do it too, and this is something our generation can do right now. When I talk to regional leaders, I see with great pleasure that everyone believes in this vision. Of course, there will be some difficulties and risks in realizing this vision. This needs to be accepted in advance. These risks may be extra-regional risks, but if the geography we live in is to produce more stability and prosperity for the world, the way to do this is to realize the vision you mentioned, and I personally believe that this is possible. Our President (Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) also believes in this vision very much and gives a lot of political support. I hope we see this come to life while we are alive. All my work is in this direction."

TURKEY-EGYPT RELATIONS ARE "AT THE BEST LEVEL IN MODERN HISTORY"

Touching upon Turkey-Egypt relations, Fidan said that bilateral relations between the two countries have now reached "the best level in modern history."

Pointing out that the brotherly relationship between the two countries and the relationship between the peoples has always been excellent, Fidan said, "The two peoples are already similar to each other, it is impossible to separate them. However, the relationship between the political elite and the relationship from bureaucracy to bureaucracy, from government to government, has reached a really exceptionally good point. Because we can talk about all kinds of issues."

Pointing out that there is great solidarity and cooperation between the two countries, Fidan said that relations are progressing further and commercial relations are also "exceptionally good."

Minister Fidan expressed that more can and should be done to advance bilateral relations, noting that everything is at the very beginning.

Saying, "Because both countries have started to discover what we can do if we can bring our potential together, beyond our own potentials," Fidan stated that this situation is the same in the region not only with Egypt but also with other countries.

Emphasizing that bilateral cooperation between Turkey and Egypt should be taken forward by working professionally in every field, Fidan said, "But I underline, we need to work professionally, we need to work hard. There is political intention, there is will. We need to do a lot of work underneath."

Responding to a question about how they can reconcile potential disagreements between the two countries, Fidan said, "Now, if we see each other as friends, if we have a difference on an issue, it is easier to resolve this difference. Now, our starting positions on Libya were further apart from each other. But over time, with communication, by increasing trust between us, we reached a certain point. Likewise on Sudan, and we are already working very closely together on Gaza. We are working very closely on Palestine. So we are working like flesh and nail."

News Source: 12punto