Gargash to Erdogan: Turkish army presence in Qatar destabilizes region

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said today, Saturday, that the presence of the Turkish army in Qatar is an element of instability in the region.

Gargash stated that the Turkish president’s statement during his visit to Qatar, in which he indicated that his army is working to stabilize the Gulf states as a whole, is inconsistent with the Turkish regional role, and the evidence is numerous.

He stressed, "The statement tries to divert attention from the economic reasons for the visit, and to be clear, the Turkish army in Qatar is an element of instability in our region."

The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs affirmed that the Turkish military presence in the Arabian Gulf is an emergency and contributes to negative polarization in the region.

He explained that the military presence is the decision of the ruling elites in the two countries that reinforces the policy of polarization and axes and does not take into account the sovereignty of states and the interests of the Gulf and its peoples.

He indicated that the region does not need regional garrisons and reproduce colonial relations dating back to a previous era.

(A)

ANHA