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Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lined up behind Qatar in its feud with Saudi Arabia and regional allies, offering to mediate a resolution of a crisis that has thrown one of the worlds most strategically important regions into turmoil.

Categorization of Qatar as a terrorist state wont help alleviate the problems facing the region which is in need of unity, Erdogan told a group of Turkish diplomats late Tuesday, while carefully avoiding any censure of the gas-rich emirates adversaries.

Erdogan in Ankara, June 6.

Photographer: Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Id like to say that we dont find sanctions against Qatar right, Erdogan said at the gathering in Turkish capital, Ankara. The most appropriate way for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries to solve their internal issues is through dialogue. In this regard, we admire Qatars constructive and cool-headed approach.

A group of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed diplomatic and commercial ties with Qatar earlier this week, accusing the Gulf emirate of supporting terrorist groups ranging from Shiite Iranian proxies to Sunni militants such as Islamic State.

For more on Qatar spat: Why Tiny Qatar Angers Saudi Arabia and Its Allies: QuickTake Q&A

Erdogan, who has sided with Qatar against Saudi Arabia in supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, had previously held his silence on the crisis. But in an attempt to avoid alienating other Persian Gulf states by coming down hard on them, he offered to step in as a peacemaker.

Well continue to develop our relationship with Qatar like all other friends whose support we felt during last years failed military coup attempt, Erdogan said. We are ready to do everything to resolve other countries problems with Qatar.

Qatar, a country of 2.7 million people about the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut, is a major investor in Turkeys $857 billion economy with interests in media, financial and defense companies. The Turkish military is building a base in the emirate that will eventually host 10,000 troops under a pact in which Turkey agreed to defend Qatar militarily in the future.

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Turkey Chooses Sides in Gulf Conflict as Erdogan Defends Qatar - Bloomberg

Over the weekend we talked about the rising tensions between Germany and Turkey and the implications that could have for European military agreements in the region. The Germans were upset over Turkeys refusal to allow official visits to the German troops stationed at Incirlik air base, a primary military facility used by a number of countries including the United States. That snub seemed to be a tit-for-tat result of Angela Merkels refusal to extradite Turkish citizens in Germany who Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing of being supporters of last years attempted coup.

The situation has boiled over fairly quickly, and now the Associated Press reports that Germany is pulling their troops and aircraft out of Incirlik.

Chancellor Angela Merkels Cabinet has decided to pull German troops and reconnaissance aircraft out of Turkeys Incirlik air base after Turkish officials refused to let members of parliament visit those stationed there.

The decision Wednesday announced by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen comes after a lengthy impasse over the visits and ongoing friction between Berlin and Ankara. Theyve involved a multitude of other issues, including the arrest of German journalists in Turkey and Germanys decision to grant asylum to soldiers and others who Turkey alleges were involved in last years failed coup.

This may not be a huge deal in terms of the overall war against ISIS but its definitely an inconvenience to the Germans. Theyve got some Tornado recon planes at Incirlik as well as a refueling plane used by several members of the coalition. Merkel can move the aircraft and personnel to a base in Jordan, but thats not as convenient as the base in Turkey and will lengthen response times. Of course, both sides are agreeing that the logistics to make the move will take up to two months and they may patch things up in the meantime and decide to leave them there.

But no matter which way it goes, this is only one more example of the fraying of Turkeys alliances with western powers under Erdogan. Hes been making unreasonable demands of the countries hes supposedly an ally of while continuing to push his luck in other areas. Hes still holding American Pastor Andrew Brunson in prison and on Friday he arrested the father of an NBA player. Many of the actions Erdogan is taking would have been cause for a complete collapse of diplomatic ties in more peaceful times, but Turkey occupies such a critical position in geopolitical affairs these days they can seemingly get away with pretty much anything. Not only are they a key component in the fight against ISIS, but they are holding back a potentially far more serious flood of refugees from Syria and Iraq which could be streaming into Europe without their cooperation.

Merkels move is the first true slap on the wrist that Erdogan has received over his various atrocious actions. Will anyone else be standing up to him in the near future? For at least the time being, color me skeptical.

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Germany to withdraw from Turkish air base, breaking with Erdogan - Hot Air

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin call for compromise to lower tension after several of Qatar's Arab neighbours cut ties with the Gulf state.

Photo by: AP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L), Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (C) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) in Sochi, Russia, May 3, 2017.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday called for dialogue and compromise in the Qatar crisis.

"The presidents called on all the interested sides for a dialogue in order to work out compromise decisions in the interest of preserving peace and stability in the Gulf region," the Kremlin said.

Erdogan also spoke by phone with the leaders of Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on lowering tension, Turkish presidential sources said.

"The importance of regional peace and stability was underlined in the talks, as well as the importance of focusing on the path of diplomacy and dialogue to lower the current tension," the sources said.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Yemen's internationally recognised government severed ties with Qatar on Monday over its alleged support of terrorism, and accusations of meddling in its Gulfneighbours' affairs.

Qatar denies theaccusations,saying the measures were "unjustified and based on false claims and assumptions."

Why is Qatar under siege?

Qatar diplomatic crisis affects economy and air travel

Trump weighs in on Qatar

SDF announces final assault on Raqqa

Kuwait's emir to mediate Gulf rift

In Pictures: The Six-Day War that changed Palestinian history

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Erdogan, Putin call for dialogue in Qatar row - TRT World

HRes 354, condemning attack on DC protesters, will be voted on tomorrow

Strong Bipartisan Backing for June 6th Vote on H.Res.354 WASHINGTONThe House of Representatives is set to condemn the May 16th attack by Turkish President Erdogans bodyguards against peaceful protesters in Washington, through a bipartisan resolution calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future, reported the Armenian National Committee of America.

H.Res.354, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), was adopted unanimously by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 25th. The measure has received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI).

The House is set to discuss H.Res.354 on the afternoon of June 6th with a vote on the matter scheduled after 6:30pm EST.

We are pleased to see H.Res.354 scheduled for a floor vote and are eager to see Members speak and vote in favor of this broadly backed, bipartisan condemnation of President Erdogans ongoing attempts to export his intolerance and aggression to American shores, said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. We call on the Administration to undertake each of the measures called for in H.Res.354 and, in addition, to expel Turkeys Ambassador, cancel the pending small arms sale to Turkey, and suspend any and all bilateral military aid or arms deals until Ankara has stopped obstructing justice and started reckoning honestly regarding its brutal May 16th attack.

The resolution condemns the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassadors residence on May 16, 2017, and calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The vote follows broad-based Congressional outrage expressed by over 100 Senate and House members through public statements, social media, and a series of Congressional letters.

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16th attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, DC which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparians video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters elderly men and several women who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack. Hamparian testified before a May 25th Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hearing were Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by President Erdogans bodyguards.

ANCA live footage of the attack served as source video for CNN, AP, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Daily Caller and other major media, transforming the violent incident into a global spotlight on Erdogans attempt to export his intolerance and aggression to American shores.

The Sunday, June 4th edition of The New York Times featured a two-page center-spread investigative report on the May 16th attack, with online version of the coverage translated to Turkish and shared widely on social media. The ANCA is cited by The New York Times as a source for this report.

The May 16th protest in front of the Turkish Ambassadors residence was a continuation of a demonstration held earlier in the day in front of the White House, co-hosted by the ANCA. As President Trump met with President Erdogan. human rights and religious rights groups were joined by representatives of the Kurdish, Yezidi and Armenian communities to call attention to the Erdogan regimes escalating repression against free press, the Kurdish and other ethnic communities, as well as Turkeys ongoing obstruction of justice for the Armenian Genocide.

Text of Resolution H.Res.354

Condemning the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassadors residence on May 16, 2017, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. ROYCE of California (for himself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MCCARTHY, and Mr. HOYER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Condemning the violence against peaceful protesters outside the Turkish Ambassadors residence on May 16, 2017, and calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice and measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Whereas on May 16, 2017, President Donald J. Trump hosted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, a longstanding NATO ally, for an official meeting at the White House to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation and bilateral issues;

Whereas on the evening of May 16, 2017, over two dozen protesters gathered outside of the Turkish Ambassadors residence in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate opposition to Turkish Government policies;

Whereas after hours of peaceful protest, violence erupted when pro-Erdogan supporters and individuals from the Turkish Embassy grounds pushed past District of Columbia police officers to brutally attack the demonstrators;

Whereas those Turkish officials blatantly suppressed the First Amendment rights of United States citizens, and multiple armed Turkish security officials beat, kicked, and choked unarmed demonstrators;

Whereas multiple video recordings of the violence and reports by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia and the Department of State confirm that the demonstrators did not instigate the violence;

Whereas at least 11 individuals were seriously injured in the ensuing brawl, with two individuals requiring immediate hospitalization;

Whereas two armed Turkish security officers attached to a security detail were detained at the scene for physically assaulting Federal agents;

Whereas those two Turkish security officers were later re- leased and subsequently allowed to leave the United States because they held Derived Head of State immunity; Whereas the Department of State did not request that Turkey waive the immunity for these two security officers in order to fully investigate the assault prior to their being released from custody;

Whereas a joint criminal investigation into the incident is on- going with the combined efforts of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service;

Whereas at no point was President Erdogan in danger;

Whereas immunity for diplomatic personnel and certain other foreign officials is a core principle, as is the right to pro- test peacefully and freely in the United States;

Whereas this is the third instance of violence perpetrated by members of Turkish President Erdogans security detail in United States territory;

Whereas in 2011, a brawl erupted in the halls of the United Nations General Assembly between members of Turkish President Erdogans security detail and United Nations security officers, resulting in one United Nations security officer being hospitalized due to serious injuries;

Whereas in 2016, members of Turkish President Erdogans security detail engaged in unwarranted violence against journalists reporting on an event at the Brookings Institution;

Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on May 21, 2017, that the violence outside the Turkish Embassy was outrageous and simply unacceptable; and

Whereas the right to assembly, peaceful protest, and freedom of speech are essential and protected rights in the United States: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that

(1) the rights to peacefully assemble and freely express ones views are essential to the fabric of American democracy;

(2) the Turkish security forces acted in an un-professional and brutal manner, reflecting poorly on President Erdogan and the Government of Turkey;

(3) any Turkish security officials who directed, oversaw, or participated in efforts by Turkish security forces to illegally suppress peaceful protests on May 16, 2017, should be charged and prosecuted under United States law;

(4) the United States Secret Service and the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State should review this incident and confirm with the Turkish National Police the standards expected by visiting security details to prevent future violent incidents;

(5) the Department of State should immediately request the waiver of immunity of any Turkish security detail official engaged in assault in the United States prior to release of that individual from custody;

(6) the Department of State should conduct a review of its own security procedures to determine how to mitigate the likelihood of such an event in the future;

(7) the United States respect for free speech requires officials of the United States to speak out against such incidents; and

(8) the United States should take steps to strengthen freedoms for the press and civil society in countries such as Turkey, and combat efforts by foreign leaders to suppress free and peaceful protest in their own countries.

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House Set to Condemn Erdogan-Ordered Attack on Protesters Tomorrow - Asbarez Armenian News

Qatari Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L) walk past an honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony prior to their meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara, Dec. 19, 2014.(photo byADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Author:Amberin Zaman Posted June 5, 2017

The dramatic decision by five Arab countries to sever ties with Qatarover its alleged coddling of the Muslim Brotherhood and its flirtation with their archenemyIran has caught the pugnacious emirates closest regional ally, Turkey, off balance and wondering whether it too may betargeted.

Turkeys initial reaction to the announcement by Bahrain, Egypt,Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen that they were suspending diplomatic ties as well as air and sea travel to and from Qatarwas a call for dialogue. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a news conference,We see the stability in the Gulf region as our own unity and solidarity." He went on, "Countries may of course have some issues, but dialogue must continue for problems to be resolved peacefully. We are saddened by the current picture and will give any support for its normalization.

Clearly, Qatars predicament will have a ripple effect in Turkey. Turkeys flourishing political, military and business ties with Qatar have been described and analyzed in exhaustive detail by fellow Al-Monitor columnists Metin Gurcan, Mustafa Sonmez and Fehim Tastekin. As Sonmez pointed out, the Turkish construction giantswho are driving the Turkish economyare pinning their hopes on winning contracts in Qatar. While relatively small compared to Qatar'sinvestments elsewhere, injections of Qatari money has brought some relief to Turkeys faltering finances. Qatar has also helped bankroll Turkeys Sunni Arab rebel proxies in Syriaand piggy-backed on Turkeys geostrategic clout to amplify its own in the region.

But above all, the increasingly conspiratorial and paranoid mindset in Ankara has some worrying that Turkey may somehow be in the line of fire.

A Turkish source with access to the countrys senior leadershipwho asked to not be identified by name told Al-Monitor,They see parallels between [former Egyptian President] Mohammed Morsis ouster and whats happening to Qatar now. They see it as part of a concerted campaign orchestrated by Israel and the United States against the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies with whom they feel anideological affinity and they are connecting the dots to theJuly 15coup.

Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was among the most vocal critics of current Egyptian PresidentAbdel Fattah al-Sisi after the former general ejected and jailed Morsi in 2013. Erdogan called Sisia putschist who had murdered thousands of his own people in an interview with the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera. For Erdogan, Sisi is no different from the Turkish generals who waged anunsuccessful campaign to unseat him. And while he blames the July coup attempt on the Pennsylvania-based Turkish imamFethullah Gulen, the source said,Erdogan believes that Gulen could not have acted without America and Israels support and that they may try to go after him again, and going after Qatar is like going after Turkey.

As Erdogan himself frequently acknowledges, Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AlThani was the first international leader to call him on the night of the coup. The emir was rumored to have offered the Turkish presidentan airplane, protection and sanctuary if need be.

The UAE, which is spearheading Qatars isolation, has been accused by the pro-government Turkish media of transferring funds to Gulen operatives weeks before the coup attempt. Some of the accusations are based on the hacked emails of the UAE ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba.

As of the time of publication,Erdogan had yet to publicly rise to Qatars defense. But pro-government accounts on Twitter have already done so in force with the hashtag #TurkeyWithQatar trending in Turkey. Echoing the prevailing mood, an account called @fireoftheturk tweeted a picture of Thani shaking hands with Erdogan captioned,We are with you [Q]atar, dont worry and "Allah too [has] a plan."

Read More: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/06/five-arab-states-sever-qatar-turkey-worried.html

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Ankara's paranoia spikes as Qatar shunned - Al-Monitor