Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed the importance of Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan uniting around a common goal, working to solve problems, strengthening areas of cooperation and pushing the region towards greater stability.
Fidan said in remarks during the "Night Vision" (Gece Görüşü) program broadcast on CNN TÜRK:
"Quadrilateral meetings"
As you know, from the beginning we have advocated a vision based on the countries of the region taking responsibility for their own issues. In fact, we began promoting this approach even before the genocide witnessed in the Gaza Strip. The countries of the region must address their own problems and bear the responsibility for resolving them, because waiting for dominant powers to do so has not worked, as we have repeatedly experienced.
To achieve this, certain conditions had to be met. The nation-states in the region needed to complete the process of building their institutions, become ready to cooperate, and clearly define their interests. During the war on Gaza, the joint activities of the eight-nation Contact Group served as an important example, as it marked the first time that Arab and non-Arab Muslim states came together to work on addressing regional issues.
Egypt and Saudi Arabia are the two largest countries in the Arab world; the former represents the African pillar, and the latter the pillar of the Arabian Peninsula. Pakistan is a very important nuclear power in Asia. Turkey is a pivotal power overlooking Europe, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Caucasus.
The unity of these four countries around a common goal, working to resolve problems, strengthening cooperation, and driving the region toward greater stability is of paramount importance. A state that possesses considerable power uses that power in two ways: either as a force for building order or a force for destroying it. We have recognized and believe that we all need economic development, stability, and regional peace. As countries with large populations, vast geographical areas, and facing significant threats and challenges, we are in dire need of genuine stability in the region.
