Istanbul BlogISTANBUL BLOG: Bedtime reading for Trump. Condemnation and denunciation from Arab and Islamic countries affirmed
While Donald Trump in the White House was adding coherence to his explanation of why it is the US and Israel have unleashed a massive military assault on Iran (this just in from the wires, Trump’s explanation of Israel attacking Iran’s biggest gas field: “Yeah I did, I told him [Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu] don’t do that [attack the gas field] … And he won’t do that [though he did do that] … We’re independent. We get along great. It’s coordinated. But on occasion, he’ll do something, and if I don’t like it … So, we’re not doing that any more.”), in Riyadh, there was a big gathering of top diplomats.
The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and the UAE held a consultative ministerial meeting on Wednesday, 29 Ramadan 1447, in the Saudi capital on the Iranian attacks, Turkey’s foreign ministry announced on March 19, particulary referring to Iran’s response to the Israeli attack on the gas field, South Pars, with strikes on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
The ministers affirmed their condemnation and denunciation of the deliberate Iranian attacks conducted with ballistic missiles and drones on residential areas, civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential buildings and diplomatic premises, the parties said in a joint statement following the meeting.
Whatever I
“The ministers further affirmed that such attacks could not be justified under any pretext or in any manner whatsoever,” the statement also read.
And the ministers stressed the right of states to defend themselves in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations charter.
They called on Iran to immediately halt its attacks. They affirmed the necessity of respecting international law, international humanitarian law and the principles of good neighbourliness as a first step toward ending the escalation, achieving security and stability in the region and promoting diplomacy as a means to resolve the crisis.
Whatever II
The ministers emphasised that the future of relations with Iran would depend on respecting the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs as well as refraining from violating their sovereignty or their territories in any manner whatsoever and not using or developing Iranian military capabilities to threaten countries of the region.
The ministers stressed the need for Iran to abide with implementing Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which calls for an immediate halt to all attacks, the unconditional cessation of any provocative acts or threats against neighbouring states along with the cessation of support, financing and arming of affiliated militias in Arab countries, which Iran is carrying out to serve its goals, against the interests of these countries.
Editorial problems
“Furthermore,” Iran was urged “to refrain from any measures or threatening aimed at closing or obstructing international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in Bab al-Mandab,” the statement also said (this section appeared to have escaped the proofreader).
Reaffirmation of condemnation of Israel’s attack on Lebanon
The ministers reaffirmed support for the security, stability and territorial integrity of Lebanon and for the activating of the sovereignty of the Lebanese state over all its territories and supporting the Lebanese government's decision to limit weapons to the state. They also condemned Israel's aggression against Lebanon and its expansionist policy in the region.
Proofreader asleep again
“The ministers reaffirm their commitment to continuing intensive consultation and coordination in this regard, to monitor developments and assess emerging issues in a way that ensures the formulation of common positions and the adoption of necessary legitimate measures and procedures to protect their security, stability, and sovereignty, and to halt the Iranian heinous attacks on their territories,” the statement added.
Hakan Fidan in Riyadh
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan represented Turkey at the gathering.
On March 18, Waleed Abdulkarim El Khereiji (@W_Elkhereiji, seen right, above) received Fidan upon his arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Later, Fidan met with Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (@FaisalbinFarhan, middle) and Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Fasadi (@AymanHsafadi, right) on the sidelines of the consultative meeting of the foreign ministers of a number of Arab and Islamic countries.
Fidan further participated in a consultative ministerial meeting leg with counterparts.
After posing with all of the meeting participants following the gathering, Fidan held a coordination meeting (of the type that Trump so enjoys) with the foreign ministers of Pakistan (right), Saudi Arabia (second right) and Egypt (left). This was a sidelines meeting. It was on the sidelines of the consultative meeting.
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