Presidential candidate for Turkey’s six-party opposition Nation Alliance, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, suggested on Monday that a new Middle East Peace and Cooperation Organisation will be established, T24 reported.
Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), participated in a Ramadan evening dinner organised for the top diplomats of Muslim countries in Turkey. The Islamist Felicity Party (SP), a member of the opposition alliance brought together ahead of upcoming May polls, hosted the reception.
“Many problems can be solved if you let peace prevail and keep social solidarity strong,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in his speech during the event.
“We have decided to establish the Middle East Peace and Cooperation Organisation. Why shouldn’t we come together as Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria,” the politician asked.
Kılıçdaroğlu also added that Turkey is standing alongside Palestine and the Palestinian people.
Turkey’s foreign policy has not yet been a central issue in Kılıçdaroğlu’s election campaign, while the politician emphasises Turkey’s economic downfall and widespread corruption under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Regarding the Middle East, Kılıçdaroğlu has repeatedly stated a willingness to cooperate with the Damascus government in order to ensure the voluntary return of Syrian refugees living in Turkey.
In response to a Euronews report on the future of the EU-Turkey migrant deal in the event that the opposition wins Turkey’s 14 May elections, last month Kılıçdaroğlu said that he had been very clear about the refugee issue from the beginning and promised to continue to put Turkey first.
I've been very clear about this issue from the beginning. 🇹🇷 first. https://t.co/r8erQZjQDI
— Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (@kilicdarogluk) March 30, 2023
During his speech to the ambassadors of Middle East countries, Kılıçdaroğlu did not make the aims of the new organisation he proposed clear or how it will differ from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
