Turkey on Thursday rejected the Arab League’s request that Ankara not interfere in Arab internal affairs and stop provocative actions that undermine confidence-building and threaten the security and stability of the region.
In a statement, The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara “fully rejects” all decisions taken at the Arab League’s Ministerial Council meeting held on Wednesday in the Egyptian capital Cairo.
During a virtual session, Arab foreign ministers called on Ankara to withdraw all its forces from Arab territories.
“We once again invite the Arab League to undertake a positive role in ensuring stability and security in the region, instead of acting under the direction of some of its members which have a hostile attitude towards our country,” the Turkish Ministry said.
It added that Ankara gives great importance to the territorial integrity and political unity of the Arab countries as well as to regional stability, contrary to the "baseless accusations" - aiming to cover destructive agenda and activities - of those administrations behind these decisions.
Separately, Turkey and Iran underlined their strong commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity in line with all agreements in the framework of the Astana format.
The position came in a joint statement issued following a virtual meeting between Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Both sides also reaffirmed their conviction that the Syrian conflict could be resolved through a political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Meanwhile, Turkish forces continued to enhance their military presence in Idlib.
A new Turkish military column, including armored vehicles and other vehicles carrying officers, crossed Thursday into the Syrian territory, via Kafr Lusin crossing on the border with Iskenderun region in northern Idlib. The vehicles headed to the Turkish positions in the “de-escalation zone.”
