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TURKEY-SAUDI-DIPLOMACY WRAP
Turkey to search Saudi consulate after Erdogan, king talk
ISTANBUL, Oct 15, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkish investigators were on Monday
expected to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul for the first time since
journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared, after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and King Salman discussed the case by phone.
Khashoggi, a Saudi national and US resident who became increasingly
critical of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen
since he walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to sort out marriage
paperwork on October 2.
Turkish officials have said they believe he was killed — a claim Saudi
Arabia refuted — and the controversy has dealt a huge blow to the image of
the kingdom and efforts by the youthful crown prince to showcase a reform
drive.
Riyadh had so far not allowed the search at the Istanbul consulate —
officially Saudi territory — amid reports both sides were at odds over the
conditions of the probe.
But a Turkish diplomatic source said it was expected that the search, a
joint operation with Saudi authorities, would “take place towards the
evening” Monday.
Dozens of media organisations — some of whom had set up tents — were
maintaining a constant vigil outside the consulate in expectation of the
search finally beginning.
Cleaners were seen going into the building around lunchtime, causing a
minor flurry of excitement, an AFP reporter said.
The Saudi delegation that was due to be involved in the search and has
been in Turkey since Friday arrived at Istanbul police headquarters, Turkish
television said.
– ‘No-one can undermine ties –
The development came after Erdogan and King Salman had their first
telephone talks since the controversy erupted, in what appeared to be a
conciliatory conversation according to official readouts.
While lurid claims have appeared in Turkish media — including that
Khashoggi was tortured and dismembered — the Turkish leadership has so far
refrained from pointing the finger directly at Riyadh in public comments.
Salman emphasised the importance of the Turkey-Saudi relationship and said
no-one should be able to “undermine the strength of this relationship,”
official Saudi media said.
He also thanked Erdogan for “welcoming the kingdom’s proposal to form a
joint working group” on the disappearance.
Erdogan and Salman discussed “the issue of shedding light on the case of
Jamal Khashoggi” and also emphasised the “importance of creating a joint
working group within the framework of the investigation,” said a Turkish
presidential source, who asked not to be named.
– ‘Davos in Desert’ unravels –
The controversy has troubled Saudi’s traditional Western allies — who are
key arms suppliers to the kingdom — and also undermined efforts by Mohammed
bin Salman to present himself as a modernising ruler.
An investment conference seen as a platform for the crown prince due to
take place next week in Riyadh and dubbed “Davos in the Desert”, has been hit
by a string of prominent cancellations.
Business barons including British billionaire Richard Branson and Uber CEO
Dara Khosrowshahi, as well as media powerhouses like Bloomberg and CNN, have
pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative (FII).
In major new twin blows to the credibility of the event, JPMorgan Chase CEO
Jamie Dimon and Ford chairman Bill Ford also cancelled plans to attend, CNBC
reported.
Saudi stocks have been hit, but made a partial comeback Monday after days
of heavy losses with the Tadawul All-Shares Index (TASI) rising 1.8 percent
two hours after opening.
US President Donald Trump has threatened the kingdom with “severe
punishment” if Khashoggi was killed inside its Istanbul mission.
But Riyadh vowed to hit back on Sunday against any punitive measures while
Trump has also made clear he is reluctant to curb all-important arms sales to
Saudi Arabia.
Britain, France and Germany released a rare joint statement saying they
were treating Khashoggi’s disappearance “with the utmost seriousness” and
calling for a “credible investigation”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1844 hrs