Saudi’s King Salman and Erdogan hold discussion
Meeting comes ahead of Syria peace talks
RIYADH // Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia’s top leadership yesterday during a visit to strengthen ties as part of the Turkish president’s Gulf tour ahead of Syria peace talks.
King Salman hosted a luncheon banquet for Mr Erdogan, who arrived in Riyadh on Monday.
But no details of their discussions were made available. Mr Erdogan also met crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior minister, and dep- uty crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the defence minister.
The two countries have become increasingly close over the past year, sharing in particular a backing for the opposition in Syria’s war.
Ankara has taken on an increasingly important role with Moscow and Iran as a power broker in the Syria conflict.
Analysts said the capture by Syria’s army of the country’s second city Aleppo, backed by Russian air strikes, was a setback for Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The countries have supported rebels whose struggle to dismiss president Bashar Al Assad seems increasingly fruitless.
Last month, Turkey, along with Assad allies Russia and Iran, sponsored talks in Kazakhstan between Syrian rebels and government officials.
There was no breakthrough, but another round is expected in Astana today and tomorrow, before United Nations-sponsored peace talks resume in Geneva on February 23.
On Monday in Bahrain, Mr Erdogan called for a safe zone in northern Syria for people displaced by the war.
The positions of Saudi Arabia and Turkey are “absolutely identical” on Syria, Saudi foreign minister Adel Al Jubeir said last week in Ankara.
Mr Erdogan travelled to Qatar yesterday, a country with which Turkey has strong ties.