Turkish Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş: Israel's attacks on Lebanon, Syria violate international law
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş described Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Syria as a clear violation of international law. In his meeting with the President of the Norwegian Parliament, Kurtulmuş also touched on the Palestine issue and US-Iran talks.
Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş made important statements at a joint press conference following his meeting with Norwegian Parliament Speaker Masud Garahkhani in Ankara. Kurtulmuş said they consider Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Syria as a clear violation of international law.
Kurtulmuş, who welcomed his Norwegian counterpart with an official ceremony at the Turkish Parliament, stated that this visit, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and takes place after a 14-year gap, will make a significant contribution to cooperation.
NATO and regional security
Kurtulmuş recalled that Turkey and Norway, as NATO allies, work together in many international parliamentary organizations. Referring to the recent NATO Parliamentary Summit held in Istanbul, Kurtulmuş reported that it addressed increasing security risks in Europe, the search for a new peace architecture, and regional crises.
Pointing to the NATO leaders' summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8, Kurtulmuş said, "Turkey has recently become one of the important centers of international diplomacy, especially thanks to its emphasis on diplomacy and its approach that all conflicts can be resolved at the negotiation table."
Common stance on Palestine
Stating that the parties are in the same position on the Palestine issue, one of the fundamental issues of the Middle East and the entire world, Kurtulmuş noted the following:
Norway, like Turkey, believes that the Palestine issue can be resolved on the basis of a two-state solution and the establishment of a fully sovereign, independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders.
Kurtulmuş once again expressed his satisfaction with Norway's official recognition of the Palestinian state in 2024.
US-Iran talks and Israel warning
Announcing that the two countries also support the negotiation process between the US and Iran, Kurtulmuş emphasized that resolving this issue through mutual negotiations as soon as possible is vital for regional and global peace. He expressed hope that the talks, which started in Geneva and continue in Doha, will yield positive results.
Warning against attempts to sabotage the process, Kurtulmuş said, "I invite the international community and especially the two countries to be cautious, as some countries may resort to provocations due to discomfort with the current situation."
Stating that Israel does not want peace in the region and feeds on instability, Kurtulmuş continued as follows:
Preventing Israel's provocations is the most important condition for the healthy progress of this process. As Turkey, we consider Israel's attacks on Syria as well as Lebanon to be a clear violation of international law. Our region needs calm and peace. Ending Israel's aggressive actions is a fundamental condition for regional peace. Therefore, the international community must not allow Israel to undermine the negotiation process that has begun between the US and Iran.
