Interference unacceptable

ANKARA: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman arrived at Turkey’s Presidential Palace here Tuesday to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with talks focused on increasing political and military ties and trade and investment.

Earlier, the king was honored with a 21-gun salute on arrival, followed by Erdogan awarding him Turkey’s highest honor, the Order of State. Erdogan, in a speech, praised the king for his efforts to strengthen relations between the two nations.
Erdogan said his government was committed to working with King Salman on several critical issues including measures to establish regional peace and security.
In his speech, King Salman said it was an honor for him, the government and the people of Saudi Arabia. “This honor reflects the depth of the relationship and friendship between our two countries which is based on the principles of Islam.”
Erdogan said it was important for the two countries to ensure there was realignment on these critical fronts. This would ensure stability across the region, he said according to SPA.
King Salman, in his speech, said that the two countries face issues of common concern, which included finding a solution to the Palestinian conflict, an end to the Syrian crisis and confronting attempts by foreign countries to interfere in the region.
He said these challenges could only be confronted if there was a united front against terrorists and those with imperialist ambitions.

He expressed his pleasure at Turkey agreeing to join 39 other countries in the fight against terrorist organizations.
King Salman said the North Thunder military exercise was a message to the world that countries in their region would not tolerate those infringing on their sovereignty.
“Today’s realities require us to work together to create a favorable environment that would allow the peoples of the region to achieve their aspirations,” the king said.
He said he was confident that the discussions would lead to “fruitful results to reinforce our strategic relationship ... and strengthen political, economic, trade, military and security ties for the benefit of our two countries.”
The talks were attended by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh bin Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, Minister of Finance Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, and Minister of Transport Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Muqbil.
Also present were Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir, Adviser at the Royal Court and Supervisor of the Minister of Defense’s office Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Issa and the Saudi Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey Adel bin Siraj Mirdad.
When the king’s meetings end on Wednesday, he will attend a two-day Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Istanbul, where talks with other Muslim nations’ leaders would continue on pressing regional and international issues.
King Salman was accompanied by Prince Khalid bin Fahd bin Khalid, Prince Mansour bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Talal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, his adviser, Prince Fahd bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, and Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Mohammed, his adviser.
Also present were Prince Sattam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Husam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, consultant at the Royal Court, Prince Mansour bin Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, adviser to the king, and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz.
Other members of the delegation included Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Prince Ahmed bin Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Turki bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, ministers and members of the king’s official delegation.