Fidan calls on Middle East to respect each other's borders, sovereignty

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Sunday that countries in the Middle East must respect each other's borders and sovereign rights.

"It is time for the countries in the region to come together, embrace a culture of cooperation, and commit not only to respecting each other's borders and sovereignty but also to protecting one another," Fidan told Saudi Arabia's Al Hadath television channel in an interview.

"By standing shoulder to shoulder, we must establish our own interests and order in the region," he added.

"We do not want Iranian domination in the region, nor do we want Turkish or Arab domination.

"All states have now reached a sufficient level of maturity and have strong foundations. There is a very strong Saudi Arabia, a very strong United Arab Emirates, an influential Qatar and Kuwait. Egypt is truly doing its best," he added.

Fidan pointed out that otherwise, the region is intervened from outside, polarization is exploited and this leads to long-term, bloody and costly conflicts.

He emphasized that such intervention is unnecessary and pointed out that the people of the region can live openly and transparently without it.

It is possible to establish economic, political and military alliances in this region, just as they are being formed in Europe, North America and other parts of the world, he said.

The region's land is fertile, and its people are productive, hardworking and honest, Fidan added.

Fidan said that after 13-14 years of intense suffering, Syria has entered a new phase and noted that Türkiye shares a 911-kilometer (566-mile) border with Syria.

He emphasized that historical, geographical, cultural and religious bonds have deeply connected the two nations.

"When this...