Turkish and Iranian FMs to meet on Yemeni crisis

ANKARA

AA Photo

The foreign ministers of Turkey and Iran may meet in the coming days to discuss efforts to resolve Yemen’s crisis, said Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç. 

“[Turkey hopes] the Houthis will withdraw from the regions they have occupied, return heavy weapons, recognize the legitimate president, and launch a process of dialogue,” Bilgiç said, speaking at a press conference on April 9.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s conveyed the specifics of Ankara’s policies on Yemen during his recent visit to Tehran, he added. 

After the evacuation of Turkish nationals in Yemen, 36 remain in Sanaa and 12 remain in Aden, leaving the total of Turkish nationals in Yemen at 48. Bilgiç said many of them had stayed in the conflict-hit country on their own will. 

Turkey warns against Armenian resolution in European Parliament 

Meanwhile, the European Parliament was set to vote on a resolution to recognize the 1915 killings of Ottoman Armenians as genocide on April 9, ahead of the 100th anniversary. Ankara is “making necessary attempts” to prevent such a resolution, and Turkish leaders conveyed their views on the issue to visiting European Parliament President Martin Schulz, Bilgiç stated.

He added that Ankara has also made efforts to prevent a similar resolution in the Dutch parliament. 
The motion at the European Parliament was set to be voted on after the Hurrityet Daily News went to press.