{Defence minister says Ankara has no plans to review ties with Qatar, after Arab states issue demands to end Gulf crisis.}<\/p>\n
Turkey has rejected a call from four Arab countries to shut down its military base in Qatar, saying the base was a guarantor of security in the Gulf and demands for its closure represented interference in its ties with Doha.<\/p>\n
Defence Minister Fikri Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV that he had not yet seen a request for the closure of the base, but made clear his country had no plans to review a 2014 agreement with Qatar which led to it being set up.<\/p>\n
His reaction comes after Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries boycotting Qatar over alleged support for “terrorism” reportedly issued a list of demands, including closing down the military installation.<\/p>\n
“If there is such a demand, it will mean interference in bilateral ties,” Isik said in an interview on Friday.<\/p>\n
Qatar welcomes Turkish troops, wraps up war game with US
\n“The base in Qatar is both a Turkish base and one that will preserve the security of Qatar and the region.<\/p>\n
“It is an important military base and no country should be disturbed by it.”<\/p>\n
Five armoured vehicles and 23 military personnel arrived in Doha on Thursday in a deployment Turkey’s armed forces said was part of a military training and cooperation deal.<\/p>\n
Some 88 Turkish soldiers were already in Qatar, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.<\/p>\n
The newspaper said a joint exercise by Turkish and Qatari forces was expected following the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday which starts on Sunday and the number of Turkish soldiers sent to the Gulf state could eventually reach 1,000.<\/p>\n
The Turkish military base in Qatar is a first for Turkey in the Arab world.<\/p>\n
“Turkey’s miltary agreement with Qatar isn’t a new thing, but after the Gulf tensions erupted Turkey just fast tracked a draft bill in the parliament to deploy its troops to Doha and boost Qatar’s morale,” said Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul.<\/p>\n
“According to the agreement, almost 600 Turkish military personel will be training Qatar’s soldiers.”<\/p>\n
Turkey has been the foremost supporter of Qatar since the Gulf dispute began on June 5.<\/p>\n
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denounced the isolation of Qatar as “inhumane and against Islamic values”.<\/p>\n
Source:Al Jazeera<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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