Diplomat hails Saudi support for Turkey post-coup bid

By Ramadan Turgut

RIYADH

Turkish ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Monday hailed the kingdom’s support for Turkey following last month’s defeated coup.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency from Riyadh, Yunus Demirer described Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the coup bid as "clear and sincere".

He noted that Saudi King Salman had personally called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the wake of the coup attempt to express his country’s support and solidarity with Turkey.

On July 15, a renegade faction within the military attempted to overthrow the country’s democratically-elected government, widely believed to have been orchestrated by U.S. based preacher Fetullah Gulen and his followers.

Gulen is also accused of conducting a long-running campaign to overthrow the Turkish government through the infiltration of state institutions -- particularly the military, police and judiciary -- with the aim of establishing a "parallel state".

Demirer also praised the Saudi media for explicitly condemning Turkey’s failed coup plot.

"The Saudis have expressed their admiration for the sacrifices made by the Turkish people and government in putting down the coup attempt," he said, going on to note the Saudi conviction that Turkey’s stability meant stability for the entire region.

Demirer also pointed out that Saudi holidaymakers had not canceled plans to spend their vacations in Turkey in the wake of the coup bid.

In addition, the ambassador said Saudi businessmen "have shown their keenness to pursue investment projects in Turkey, reflecting their confidence in the country".

The foiled putsch left at least 240 martyrs and nearly 2,200 others in its wake.