Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed dissatisfaction on the economic and political sanctions against Qatar, saying his country will grant every necessary support to the gulf state.
Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt announced on Monday that they have severed ties with Qatar.
Image: Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The Maldives, Libya and Yemen later joined all neighboring states to push Qatar into accepting all proposed agreements, or face stiffer measures.
A total of 10 conditions, including severance of all ties with the Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood, were sent to Kuwait, which is mediating between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Saudi threatened an invasion within 24 hours, if the terms and conditions are rejected in part or full.
Meanwhile, President Erdogan stressed that sanctions are not the best solutions to diplomatic crisis.
Speaking to a gathering of activists from the ruling Justice and Development Party, the 63-year-old president said: “We do not consider sanctions against Qatar effective.
He added, according to a report from Sputnik, “At a time when we particularly need solidarity and cooperation, this situation will not benefit anyone in our region.”
In his plea for mercy and understanding, Erdogan vouched for the tiny Gulf emirate, saying he would personally invade the country if the accusations of terrorism were true.
“Let me say at the outset that we do not think the sanctions against Qatar are good,” the Turkish president continued.
“Turkey will continue and will develop our ties with Qatar, as with all our friends who have supported us in the most difficult moments,” he added, making reference to the failed 15 July coup plot which ended over 200 lives.
“Efforts to isolate Qatar will not solve any problem,” said Erdogan.
“Presenting Qatar as a supporter of terrorism is a serious accusation,” he added.
“I know Qatari leaders very well and if that had been the case, I would have been the first head of state to confront them.”
Turkey has a good relationship with Qatar, and is not an enemy to other regional states, especially Saudi Arabia.
Erdogan applied diplomacy in his choice of words, making sure he didn’t compromise the friendly ties with Riyadh.
He unequivocally advised all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to “resolve their differences through dialogue.”
