Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Friday reiterated Ankara’s stance against the USA’ recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, pronouncing that it violates the global law. “We clearly do now not recognize the sort of choice and this type of signature [of U.S. President Donald Trump] because it’s far against global law and UN resolutions. These are the territories of Syria,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated at an information conference inside the Mediterranean province of Antalya.
Çavuşoğlu’s remarks got here after the 7th Turkish-Russian Joint Strategic Planning Group Meeting, where the minister mentioned bilateral relations and modern regional and international tendencies together with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Çavuşoğlu stated the U.S. Choice did not contribute to nearby peace and balance, including: “On the contrary, it creates unrest and chaos within the region.”
Lavrov, for his element, stated Russia also did now not understand the selection, saying: “This is in opposition to international regulation. All sorts of worldwide regulation turned into violated and damaged.” On Monday, Trump signed a presidential proclamation officially recognizing Golan Heights as Israeli territory.
Israel occupies thirds of the broader Golan Heights as a de facto result of the war. It moved to annex the territory in 1981 formally — a motion unanimously rejected through the UN Security Council.
Israel has lengthy pushed Washington to recognize its claim over the territory it seized from Syria throughout the 1967 six-day battle. Turkey, Russia, China, Germany, and others are already opposed to Washington’s maximum arguable move in recent years.
Bilateral Ties
Çavuşoğlu said Ankara changed into thrilled with enhanced bilateral family members with Moscow, adding: “Our relations are enhancing in each region starting from economy to culture. We recognize essential tasks.”
He also said Turkey and Russia not simplest expand bilateral family members but also make stronger cooperation on regional troubles. “It is not confined to Syria or some international locations. We are in consultation with Russia in many areas, including Balkans and Central Asia,” Çavuşoğlu stated.
The minister also stated Ankara expects Russia to put off the visa ban on Turkish citizens. “Our expectation is the entire elimination of visas for our citizens. We mentioned which steps we can take concerning this, and additionally, we can together keep to paintings in this problem,” Çavuşoğlu stated. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to boost visa necessities for Turkish service passport holders and truck drivers visiting Russia.
The new guidelines also are legitimate for Turkish citizens with special passports on short-term enterprise trips, inclusive of the ones to diplomatic missions and consular offices, in addition to professional drivers transporting global cargo.
