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Erdogan Sends New Batch of Troops to Doha before visiting the Gulf | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan shows a document as he attends an interview with Reuters at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, April 25, 2017. Reuters


Ankara- The Turkish army has sent a new batch of troops to its military base in Doha before the beginning of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Gulf tour, which starts on Sunday and will include visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar to find a friendly solution to the current crisis.

The sixth military group arrived in Doha early on Wednesday, and it included 28 artillerymen.

This deployment is in line with the deal between Ankara and Doha on strengthening military cooperation reached in 2015 and approved by Turkish parliament on June 7, 2017, just two days following the diplomatic boycott between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt.

Military vehicles will be sent on a plane of the Turkish armed forces after sending this batch, military sources said.

Turkey has already sent five batches of its troops, including 171 officers and soldiers, in addition to military artillery.

Erdogan has earlier discussed with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani developments of Qatari crisis during a phone call on Tuesday evening.

Prince Tamim congratulated Erdogan on the occasion of the Democracy and National Unity Day, according to Turkish presidential sources.

The two parties also discussed means of developing bilateral relations.