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UAE, Turkey Agree on Regional Issues to Combat Terrorism | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Fighters from the Free Syrian Army cheer and react as they fight against ISIS jihadists on the outskirts of the northern Syrian town of Dabiq, on October 15, 2016/AFP


Ankara- Turkey and the UAE affirmed the importance of coordination to end the crises dominating the region- mainly in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya- by finding political solutions that protect the unity and peaceful living of people.

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu and his UAE counterpart Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed in a joint press conference held Sunday in Ankara the need to safeguard the unity of Iraq and to combat any attempts of division between Iraqis based on sectarian and ethnical grounds.

The UAE foreign minister renewed his country’s rejection of the coup attempt in Turkey and reaffirmed its support of the legal government in Ankara.

At the economic level, Bin Zayed said there is an opportunity to boost economic exchange and investment between both countries. “There are more than 10,000 Turkish nationals living in the UAE,” Bin Zayed said.

He added that the recent GCC-Turkey foreign ministers’ meeting held in Riyadh few days ago is a vital step in the strategic relations between both countries.

The UAE Foreign Minister added that responsibilities have increased since the Riyadh meeting due to security challenges, particularly terrorism, stressing the full support of the GCC states to Turkey.

Bin Zayed also welcomed Turkey and the GCC countries decision to reactivate their free trade agreement.

He thanked Turkey for its supportive stance towards the UAE’s right over its islands occupied by Iran and for backing the Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen.

Asked about Operations Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, the Turkish Foreign Minister said: “The target is to continue towards al-Bab and liberate Manbij area completely from ISIS terrorists.”

On Sunday, Operation Euphrates Shield seized the northern village of Dabiq from ISIS.

Cavusoglu said: “They [Free Syrian Army] have gained major successes in northern Syria and life is getting back to normal there. That’s what we want to see in Syria.”