PM Erdogan: "Turkey only aims to ensure regional peace and stability"

After completing his talks in Abu Dhabi, including an address to the Third World Future Energy Summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday proceeded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he met with King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud. The Saudi monarch hosted a banquet in honor of Erdogan, with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz also in attendance. Later Erdogan and his Cabinet ministers had a meeting with Abdullah, followed by an interdelegational meeting chaired by Erdogan and the Saudi king. Erdogan also had a face-to-face meeting with Abdullah. Speaking at a meeting held by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erdogan spoke on Turkey's foreign policy of recent years, which he characterized as multifaceted, multidirectional and proactive based on cooperation, friendship and solidarity. Saying that regional problems such as Iraq and Georgia are also Turkey's problems, Erdogan added, "It's natural for Turkey to show interest in all these problems. Likewise, the Palestinian problem is also Turkey's problem. This is very natural. We're interested in the Palestinian issue and particularly Gaza not because of our Muslim identity but due to our humanitarian concerns. This is our humanitarian duty. Don't justice, conscience and being a human require acting this way?" Citing Ankara's quick aid to quake-stricken Haiti as evidence of its humanitarian values regardless of religious, ethnic or cultural differences, Erdogan again expressed his condolences to the Haitian nation for its losses due to last week's earthquake. On Israel's offensive in Gaza in late 2008-early 2009, which left hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including scores of children, dead, Erdogan said, "We all belong to a civilization that sees the death of one human being as the death of all mankind. We cannot tolerate a world where defenseless people, including children, are killed. Of course, we will speak out against such acts of inhumanity, and will defend justice." Stating that Turkey's stand against the killing of civilians with phosphorus bombs should not trouble anyone, Erdogan added, "Turkey's only goal is to ensure regional peace, stability and tranquility." Turkey is pleased to see the support of all regional countries, especially Saudi Arabia, in this process, he said.