Turkey welcomes removal of Turkish base from list of demands imposed on Qatar

ANKARA

REUTERS photo

Turkey has welcomed the removal of a demand to shut down the Turkish base in Qatar from a list of demands imposed by Saudi Arabia and four other countries on the gas-rich country, calling it a positive move. 

“Turkey has always made constructive calls to parties. These have already yielded consequences. Reducing the number of demands from 13 to six and the removal of a demand to shut the Turkish base are positive developments,” Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın told reporters at a press conference on July 20. 

Kalın recalled that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will embark on a tour to three Gulf countries - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar - between July 23 and 24. The purpose of the visit is to further contribute efforts to find an immediate solution to the problem between Qatar and the four Arab nations. 

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt imposed a set of sanctions on Qatar on June 5 on grounds that the gas-rich country was supporting and financing terrorist organizations. A 13-article list was given to Qatar early July but was renewed after mediation efforts.