Türkiye-Qatar relations rapidly advancing on basis of ‘brotherly ties’: Deputy FM
Night view of skyline along waterfront of Corniche towards modern office towers in Doha Qatar (File Photo Reuters)
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yasin Ekrem Serim announced on Sunday that relations between Türkiye and Qatar are rapidly developing across all areas, underscoring their “strategic character based on mutual trust.”
Visit to Qatar and diplomatic engagements
Speaking to Al Jazeera about his visit to Qatar and current international developments, Serim expressed his pleasure in visiting Qatar after two years.
He appreciated the hospitality shown by Qatari officials and highlighted his ongoing communications with Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah Rashid al-Khater regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza since March.
Strategic and brotherly relations
Highlighting the positive relations between Türkiye and Qatar, Serim noted that the relationship is built on “brotherly” sentiments and significant progress has been made in various fields. He pointed to continuous high-level mutual visits and meetings as evidence of the strong bilateral ties.
Humanitarian efforts in Gaza
Serim emphasized that since the beginning of the Gaza crisis, Türkiye and Qatar have been responsible for a significant portion of the aid delivered to the region. He condemned the massacres in Gaza and stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation with regional countries to address this issue.
Serim welcomed the U.N. Security Council’s decision on June 10 to approve a resolution endorsing a cease-fire plan in Gaza as a significant step toward ending the massacre. He also praised the International Court of Justice’s decision ordering Israel to stop its attacks on the southern city of Rafah and to open the Rafah border crossing for humanitarian aid.
Support for Palestine and 2-state solution
Serim reiterated the need to end the Israeli occupation and work toward a two-state solution. He praised ongoing mediation efforts and affirmed Türkiye’s continued contributions to these efforts, emphasizing that having a state is the most natural right of the Palestinian people.
