Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan commented today that even before the first meetings to be held after the temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US, Israel launched strikes on Lebanon. He said this during a briefing broadcast live on the official account of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, BTA reported.
“As we expected, Israel “spoiled the game“ and launched large-scale airstrikes on Lebanon, the likes of which have never been carried out before, and this led to the deaths of many civilians. Of course, the negotiations that will continue against the backdrop of this provocation by Israel will be difficult, and I would like to remind you that the issues that will be contested are on very difficult topics“, Fidan said. He specified that one of the topics will be related to Iran's nuclear program and uranium enrichment, and the other - to the status of the Strait of Hormuz from now on in view of its importance for the world economy.
Hakan Fidan commented on the possibility of establishing lasting peace in the region in view of the accumulated fatigue from a number of conflicts and bloodshed.
“Countries, especially Arab countries in the region - both in the Persian Gulf and beyond, use external intervention as a means of resolving their problems with Iran. On the other hand, Iran's attempts to exert influence in the region by all available means have always led to very serious tensions. "We foresee that, guided by the principle of the current situation in the region, the countries in it will unite as its children and will have clearly defined borders, flags and locations, and that everyone will respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other, creating trust and a basis for rise," Fidan said.
According to him, under certain conditions, the ceasefire can be extended. Hakan Fidan expressed hope that the negotiations will end with a positive result.
The Turkish Foreign Minister also commented on the problems in the first phase of the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement. Among them, he pointed out the obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries in sufficient quantities, as well as the lack of stability regarding the opening of the Rafah border crossing, which is located between Egypt and Gaza.
The Turkish Foreign Minister also met today with his Syrian counterpart, Assad al-Shibani. He arrived in Ankara after Hakan Fidan visited Damascus at the end of the week. The two reaffirmed their position in support of security in Syria, compliance with the plan for the integration of Syrian Kurdish militias into the Syrian army and the part that concerns oil deposits in Kurdish-populated areas. Fidan's statement after his meeting with his Syrian counterpart today made it clear that Syrian President Ahmed Ash Sharaa will attend the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya, which will be held from April 17 to 19.