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Qatar

Qatar reaffirms support for Turkey's efforts to maintain national security

Published: 23 Jan 2018 - 12:59 pm | Last Updated: 15 Nov 2021 - 08:23 am
Turkish army tanks and armored personnel carriers (APC) are seen near the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkish army tanks and armored personnel carriers (APC) are seen near the Turkish-Syrian border in Hatay province, Turkey January 23, 2018. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

QNA

Doha: Qatar reaffirmed its support for the efforts of Turkey to maintain its national security in the wake of the breaches and terrorist attacks carried out inside Turkish territories.

Speaking to QNA on Monday, Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Lolwah AlKhater said the Turkish army's launch of Operation Olive Branch on Saturday was driven by legitimate concerns related to its national security and securing its borders, as well as protecting the territorial integrity of Syria from the danger of secession. 

AlKhater added that the operation comes as the Turkish territories were subjected to several infiltrations and terrorist attacks that the Turkish government saw some of which to be connected to the security and military component present on the Turkish-Syrian border, which the ISIS group and combating it played a role in its formation.

She noted that Qatar, while backing the efforts of Turkey to maintain its security, expresses its full support for the right of states to defend their national security, which is guaranteed by international conventions, including Article 51 of the UN Charter. 

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson said that Turkey, the main member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has always been a stabilizing and balancing factor in the region, adding that Qatar is fully confident of Turkey's keenness to maintain the safety of civilians and the territorial integrity of Syria.

AlKhater noted that the war on the criminal ISIS group is nearing its end, so all actors in the Syrian crisis must reach permanent solutions that take into account achieving justice for the Syrian people and holding accountable those who committed crimes against it, in addition to addressing the interests and concerns of all those affecting and affected by the crisis as guaranteed by international law.