Addressing reporters before leaving for Qatar, Erdoğan said: “The relations between Turkey and Qatar are getting stronger day by day on the basis of a strategic perspective in keeping with the two countries’ histories, potentials and friendship. Within the framework of the Supreme Strategic Committee mechanism, we have thus far signed 69 documents with Qatar in a wide range of areas including on military, political, commercial, economic and cultural matters. The deals we have inked have further enhanced our cooperation.”

Noting that the first meeting of the Strategic Committee, about whose establishment he and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim had reached a decision back in 2014, was held in Doha in 2015, Erdoğan said: “The relations between Turkey and Qatar are getting stronger day by day on the basis of a strategic perspective in keeping with the two countries’ histories, potentials and friendship. Within the framework of the Supreme Strategic Committee mechanism, we have thus far signed 69 documents with Qatar in a wide range of areas including on military, political, commercial, economic and cultural matters. The deals we have inked have further enhanced our cooperation. We will consolidate our solidarity through the agreements we will sign tomorrow on the occasion of the 7th meeting.”

He and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim will co-chair the committee meeting following their bilateral talks, the President stated. “We will review all the aspects of our bilateral relations during our talks. We will exchange views on important regional and international issues that are on our shared agenda. I will thereafter pay a visit to the Qatari-Turkish Combined Joint Task Force Command. I will converse with our soldiers and commanders who are on duty at the Joint Task Force Command, a sign of the friendship between Turkey and Qatar.”

“Turkey and Qatar have preserved their firm stance in the face of regional difficulties”

Describing Turkey and Qatar as two countries which have preserved their firm stance in the face of the regional difficulties they have experienced in recent years, Erdoğan said: “We have managed to overcome the obstacles we have faced by acting in close cooperation as two friends and brothers. We have strengthened our win-win cooperation in many areas from defense to trade and investments. Turkey’s first-ever zinc smelting factory, which we inaugurated in Siirt on Saturday, is the latest example of this. This facility, which will be initially manufacturing 50 thousand tons annually and will boost its capacity first to 120 thousand tons and then to as high as 250 thousand tons, will meet nearly half of our country’s need for zinc. With the inauguration of the lead-silver and sulfuric acid factories as well, a total of 7.5 thousand people will be employed. We see these investments, the total value of which will reach 500 million dollars by 2023, as an embodiment of our Qatari brothers and sisters’ confidence in Turkey and the Turkish economy.”

Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “Such investments will exponentially increase as terrorism’s dark shadow over our Eastern and South Eastern Anatolia regions disappears. This is the reason why those who collaborate with the political extensions of the separatist terrorist organization cannot learn to accept Qatar’s investments in our country. Their annoyance actually stems from the fact that Turkey attracts direct international investments and the Turkish economy rises on the foundations of investment, employment, production and exportation. We all witness the indications of this in the letters of complaint sent to the ambassadors of foreign countries and in the delusional remarks made to the international media. As has been the case in the last 19 years, we will continue to develop and strengthen our country and make it a shining star of the region despite these tutelage supporters, who are hostile to capital and investments. We have been working in this direction to reinforce our cooperation with other countries in the Gulf besides Qatar.”

Expressing Turkey’s pleasure over the efforts aimed at re-opening the channels of dialogue and getting rid of misunderstandings in the Gulf region, Erdoğan stated: “As Turkey, we will maintain our relations with our brothers and sisters in the Gulf without distinction within the framework of our common interests and mutual respect. May the Lord help us! I am of the belief that our talks in Doha will significantly contribute to the deepening of our relations with Qatar. I hope our talks will lead to auspicious developments for our country and nation and will further consolidate the Turkey-Qatar brotherhood.”

Attack on the grand mosque in Larnaca

In answer to a question about the attack on the Grand Mosque in South Cyprus, Erdoğan said: “Unfortunately, an operation was conducted in Larnaca, South Cyprus against our mosques. This operation in South Cyprus will of course not go unanswered. Ömer Çelik, the spokesman of our party, has spoken clearly on the issue. Similar to the remarks that were made as regards the issue by President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), we say the following to South Cyprus: ‘Do not engage in such sabotages against our sanctuaries. Engaging in such sabotages against our sanctuaries costs you very dearly.’ We are carrying out every kind of investigation to find out who is behind these sabotages. We have six mosques in South Cyprus. The South Cyprus administration is the assurance of these mosques. I always say, and let me reiterate it on this occasion that just as we are the assurance of their sanctuaries and churches, they have to give the same assurance, too.” (ILKHA)