Gulf Cooperation Council

The other day, I called a Turkish Cypriot academic friend of mine who has written several articles on the Cyprus issue.

"What do you say; do you think they will solve it this time?" I asked directly.

Ahead of previous similar peace talks, he would always resolutely say, "It will not be solved."

Although more than two months have passed since the controversial referendum on shifting to an executive presidential system, the much-anticipated stability and comfort in Turkey's internal politics and external relationships are far from visible.

Turkey said its military base in Qatar is part of a "common vision" with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) toward the preservation of regional peace, security and stability, stressing that it is not aimed against any particular country and claiming that Turkish activities in the region are unrelated to the ongoing crisis in the Gulf. 

Turkey has rejected a key demand by several Arab states involved in a major dispute with Qatar, saying Ankara has no plans to shut down its military base in the small Gulf country.

Kuwait has reportedly given Doha a steep list of demands from Saudi Arabia and its allies boycotting Qatar in an attempt to end the unprecedented diplomatic crisis unfolding in the Persian Gulf region.

The United States declared itself "mystified" on June 20 that Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies have failed to justify their embargo on Qatar, and urged both sides to resolve the dangerous dispute.

The United States urged Saudi Arabia and its regional allies on June 9 to ease their blockade of Qatar, warning it is harming the regional struggle against extremism.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Qatar must do more to crack down on support for terrorism but that the crisis must not disrupt action against the Islamic State group.

Despite warnings from all three opposition parties in the Turkish parliament, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has given priority to the ratification of two military agreements with Qatar, allowing to send Turkish troops to the Gulf country, mainly for training purposes, late on June 7.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on June 7 that Gulf states could resolve a row with Qatar amongst themselves without outside help.

"We have not asked for mediation, we believe this issue can be dealt with among the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council," he told a news conference with his German counterpart in Berlin broadcast on Saudi state television.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 6 voiced disapproval of the sanctions on Qatar, after several Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Doha.        

"I want to say clearly that we don't find the sanctions that have started to be imposed on Qatar correct.