Ankara: Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan engaged in phone discussions with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdel-Aty, and Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional developments. The discussions centered on efforts to de-escalate tensions and revive negotiations between the United States and Iran.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, a source from the Turkish Foreign Ministry indicated that the conversations addressed recent regional developments. The Egyptian and Jordanian foreign ministries released separate statements highlighting that the discussions included issues related to Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon, in addition to bilateral relations.
During the call, Fidan and Abdel-Aty emphasized the importance of advancing Turkish-Egyptian relations and building upon the outcomes of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting held in Cairo in February 2016. They also focused on enhancing economic and trade cooperation and strategic dialogue mechanisms. Both ministers underscored the need to de-escalate regional tensions and intensify efforts to revive negotiations between the US and Iran, aiming for a final agreement through dialogue and diplomacy to prevent further regional escalation.
The discussions also touched upon coordination within the regional quartet mechanism, involving Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The ministers stressed the importance of ongoing consultations on regional security concerns, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and avoiding interference in internal affairs.
Despite a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran on June 18, tensions have recently escalated. The US Central Command announced strikes targeting Iranian military sites, prompting retaliatory attacks by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps on US bases in the region.
The calls also addressed the Palestinian issue, with both sides rejecting attempts to displace Palestinians and emphasizing the need to halt escalation in Gaza and the West Bank, ensure humanitarian aid delivery, and consult on developments in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, and Libya.
In discussions with Safadi, Fidan focused on consolidating calm in the region and implementing the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, highlighting dialogue's role in resolving the crisis. The ministers also condemned Israeli actions in Palestinian territories and affirmed their coordination to support Syria's stability.
Fidan also reviewed the outcomes of the recent NATO summit hosted by Turkey, with Safadi congratulating Ankara on the successful event. Both ministers agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation across various fields.