UPDATE - Türkiye can be part of guarantee mechanism, if there’s agreement on 2-state solution: Foreign minister

By Esra Tekin and Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday said that his country can be part of the guarantor mechanism that Ankara proposed, if an agreement on a two-state solution is reached.

Fidan warned that without the immediate implementation of the two-state solution, a fourth Gaza war is inevitable. “We will be perpetually entangled in conflicts,” he said.

His remarks came during an interview with Sky News Arabia in which he spoke about the developments in the Middle East, including Türkiye’s relations with Syria and Iraq, as well as Israel’s attacks on Gaza and cease-fire negotiations.

On the failure to reach an agreement in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has another agenda, Fidan said, adding: “Cease-fire in Palestine doesn’t align” with his political objectives.

“Both Americans and Westerners agree on this,” he said.

Stating that the Gaza issue is like a dagger “stabbed into the heart of the Islamic world in particular and the whole world in general,” Fidan said that the whole humanity is watching a “genocide” unfolding in Gaza.

Highlighting mediation efforts from Egypt and Qatar on Gaza, he said that Türkiye has been trying to give all support it can to all parties regarding the cease-fire, adding that Ankara’s aim is to stop the war and “this massacre as soon as possible.”

- Important thing is to end occupation, give Palestinians their state'

Stating that the claims that Hamas leaders were pressured to leave Doha are just rumors, Fidan said that the issue of hosting Hamas leaders in Türkiye is not discussed neither in theory nor in practice at the moment.

On criticism directed at Hamas from within following the Israeli attacks on Gaza and how Ankara sees the future of Hamas, Fidan said: What we have always said to the international community, especially to the US is this: If you don't end the occupation, you will miss the big picture while dealing with more detailed actors.”

The foreign minister said that the only issue Ankara supports is the just cause and the just resistance, adding: “It does not matter whether it is in the West Bank, Jerusalem or Gaza. What is important is that the Palestinians have a state with East Jerusalem as its capital within the 1967 borders given to them by the international system.”

Fidan said that Türkiye and some Islamic countries are ready to shoulder responsibility for the survival of this state and the peace agreement.

He underlined that Ankara wants a mechanism to be established in order to take its relations with Arab countries to a very advanced level and to avoid other types of crises, notably security crises.

-Türkiye-Syria ties

Fidan stated that that the security of Türkiye’s border with Syria, combating terrorism, and ensuring the safe and voluntary return of Syrians to their country are exceptionally important issues for Türkiye.

*On Türkiye’s stance regarding Syria, he expressed the need to eliminate terrorism from Syria, mentioning specifically Arab territories occupied by PKK and seized oil facilities there.

“We need to fight against PKK/YPG, and return oil and energy resources it controls to the Syrian people,” the foreign minister said.

He also reiterated Türkiye’s readiness and desire to resolve problems with Syria, saying: “We want to take necessary steps with Syria at certain points, just as we have normalized relations with all our brotherly and friendly countries in the region.”

Thanks to the meetings conducted via various channels since 2017, Fidan said that no clashes are taking place between the Syrian regime and opposition forces, and that no more refugees are coming from Syria.

On the future of Syrian opposition forces, Fidan said that these are the topics that should be discussed within the framework of relevant UN resolutions.

“The views and preferences of the legitimate Syrian opposition, recognized by the international community and the international system, are essential,” he added.

Emphasizing the constitutional work in Geneva where the Syrian opposition has participated with the regime, Fidan said that there’s “a very clear” roadmap set out by the UN Security Council for both the opposition and the regime to come together and determine what needs to be done.

The foreign minister added that Ankara supports both sides working within the framework of this roadmap.

Speaking about the activities of the terrorist organization PKK abroad, Fidan said: “This organization, through the wealth it steals from there, is engaged in a war against both the Syrian people and the Turkish state."

On whether there are conditions set by Damascus for the normalization of relations with Ankara, Fidan said that they have not received any preconditions so far.

Stating that Türkiye is a powerful country, Fidan said that Ankara is not seeking talks out of desperation but is actively seeking dialogue, “due to our maturity.”

"In this matter, we prioritize not our strength but our diplomatic influence and the region's need for peace,” he added.

Fidan underlined the importance of support from friendly countries in this regard, mentioning that the support and positions of Arab League members, especially countries neighboring Syria, are also significant.

He also emphasized a strong commitment from Türkiye to play a constructive role in efforts for regional development.

Fidan said that the safety and security of Syrians in Türkiye are guaranteed.

-Ties among Türkiye, Arab nations

On the relations between Türkiye and Egypt, Fidan said that he is going to visit Cairo in August, adding that Türkiye will host Egyptian President Abdelfattah al-Sisi.

He also said that Türkiye’s relations with the Arab countries reached an “excellent level.”

- Türkiye prioritizes policies for Iraq's development

Noting that Ankara prioritizes policies for Iraq's development, Fidan highlighted the importance of Iraq's Development Road project and expressed full support for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani and this project.

He underlined that for Iraq to attract investments, it must be free of weapons, conflicts, and terrorist organizations such as PKK and Daesh/ISIS.

"We do not support any country creating influence in the region or over other countries through methods other than normal cooperation, nor do we support the creation of disruptive elements in the region.

“Regardless of which country engages in such actions, we do not support these kinds of policies,” he said.

“Therefore, we advocate for the establishment of a robust regional security cooperation framework,” he added.

On Türkiye’s fight against PKK/YPG terror groups, Fidan said that PKK is spreading across Iraq like “a cancer cell.”

Fidan said that Ankara has consistently made constructive contributions in Iraq to ensure both political stability and security.

"This ceased to be our problem, but has now become a security issue for Iraq," he further added.

- ‘Extraordinary relations with UAE based on trust’

Stressing that relations between Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are “extraordinary”, Fidan said that the relationship between UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is an “extraordinarily good one based on trust.”

“We currently have very serious cooperation areas in mutual investment, trade, and technological cooperation,” he added.

He noted that the two countries hold consultations in many regional crises, including those in Somalia, Sudan, and Libya.

“We share similar views on many issues, including the Palestinian issue. We are seeking ways to bring solutions to all these crises together.

Regarding relations with Saudi Arabia, Fidan said: "Our relations with Saudi Arabia are also very good. Cooperation in the defense industry is particularly important. Our cooperation in mutual investments is important.”

He added that Türkiye has significant contacts within the Gulf Cooperation Council with both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Regarding the possibility of Khalifa Haftar, the leader of the armed forces in eastern Libya, visiting Türkiye and Ankara’s relations with eastern Libya, Fidan said relations with eastern Libya are progressing quite well.

Stating that Türkiye has been talking with Egypt, the UAE and Qatar on Libya, Fidan highlighted that along with the UN and others, Türkiye is seeking ways to achieve lasting peace and national unity in Libya.

On the Memorandum of Understanding on the Delimitation of Maritime Jurisdiction Areas signed with Libya in 2019, Fidan said: “This may have caused trouble for other countries, but that is not our concern. What matters is the legality of what we have done and its basis on mutual consent.”