Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, minister of foreign affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, described the outcome of the first meeting of the Saudi Turkish Coordination Council in which more than 49 different bodies have taken part as constructive and fruitful. In a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Moloud Jawish Oglu, Al-Jubeir said that there is common wish among the leaderships of the two countries to enhance and intensify this relation to best serve the interests of the two countries, lauding the deep-rooted historical and strategic relations binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Turkey. He expressed confidence that this council would contribute to enhancing the relations in the security, military, cultural, commercial and educational ties as well as other fields in the interest of the two countries, confirming the keenness of the Kingdom to enhance cooperation to face the challenges facing the region. He added that "there is a constructive cooperation at present between the two countries in all fields as we are seeking to enhance this cooperation to become able to cooperate to overcome the challenges facing the region in a way that contribute to security and peace stability in the region and serves the interests of the two countries as well as the international peace". Al-Jubeir also said that there is complete identity of view points between the two countries as regards the Palestinian issue and the importance of finding a solution according to international resolutions, Libyan issue, confronting terrorism and extremism as well as the illegal interference in the affairs of other countries in addition to the wish of the two counties in intensifying cooperation, particularly in the military and security fields. He emphasized that the position towards Syria is also absolutely identical with Turkey's as the two countries have participated in establishing the so-called Syria's Friends Group which attracted ten supporting countries of Syrian moderate-opposition. Our position is to preserve the unity of Syria, its security and stability to enable the Syrian people to start with a free state that achieves his aspirations, Al-Jubeir said. He called for solving the Syrian crisis according to Geneva 1 conference based on establishing a transitional power, instate ceasefire throughout the country, and create access for humanitarian assistance, noting that the Iranian interference and Hezbollah are the main obstacles derailing a peaceful solution from being reached. But we are going to work with the international community to support Syria to apply Geneva I declaration and the UN security council resolution No. 2254, he said, adding that Astana talks would hopefully lead to an agreement on a mechanism leading to ceasefire and another to allow the entrance of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Syria. As for security cooperation between the Kingdom and Turkey, he said cooperation is now there and the Kingdom is supporting Turkish efforts facing terrorism while Turkey supports the efforts of the Kingdom in the fight against terror. He added that "we believe that there are terrorist organizations operating in Turkey against the Turkish state and we support any effort to wipe out terror organizations anywhere in the world. If you say terrorism is in Syria, we have also talked about Daesh, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the constituting countries of the international alliance to confront Daesh in Syria and the Saudi royal air force is launching continuous operations over the Syrian air skies targeting terrorist organizations there. We are looking forward to U.S. President Donald Trump administration to work together to intensify efforts to demolish Daesh and work with other sisterly countries, led by Turkey, in this field. --More
