AKP Takes Saudi Boycott of Turkish Goods Lightly
ANKARA (Dispatches) – Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairperson said that Turkey was ‘laughing’ at the Saudi campaign to boycott Turkish goods.
Speaking to Turkey’s Channel 7 on Sunday, Numan Kurtulmus said, "We laugh at the fact that some countries are boycotting Turkey. Let them first learn to stand as an independent country. Let them stop standing around a magic sphere like that and holding hands with the special permission they will take from their big brothers. Let them stand on the nobility of their people”.
Kurtulmus was referring to a glowing orb which Saudi King Salman was photographed touching along with U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Sisi at the opening of a counter-terrorism centre in Riyadh in 2017. The reference to the Saudis’ big brothers was apparently a criticism of Riyadh’s relationship with the United States.
Saudi Arabia’s boycott of Turkish products is unofficial, and was called for by Ajlan Al-Ajlan, the head of Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce, a "a non-government group of private sector business officials”, according to Reuters.
A Saudi official told the newswire that "The official authorities in the kingdom have not placed any restrictions on Turkish goods”.
One anonymous Saudi businessman told Reuters that Saudi customs officials had informally told him not to import goods from Turkey.
Turkish state news agency Anadolu commented on the boycott that "analysts are convinced that comments such as those made by Ajlan cannot be made without the "blessings” of the Saudi leadership, considering the kingdom’s poor record in granting freedom of expression to its citizens.”
Nevertheless, the war of words has been increasing, with Turkish President Erdogan saying on October 1 of the Persian Gulf states that "It should not be forgotten that the countries in question did not exist yesterday, and probably will not exist tomorrow”.
Speaking to Turkey’s Channel 7 on Sunday, Numan Kurtulmus said, "We laugh at the fact that some countries are boycotting Turkey. Let them first learn to stand as an independent country. Let them stop standing around a magic sphere like that and holding hands with the special permission they will take from their big brothers. Let them stand on the nobility of their people”.
Kurtulmus was referring to a glowing orb which Saudi King Salman was photographed touching along with U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Sisi at the opening of a counter-terrorism centre in Riyadh in 2017. The reference to the Saudis’ big brothers was apparently a criticism of Riyadh’s relationship with the United States.
Saudi Arabia’s boycott of Turkish products is unofficial, and was called for by Ajlan Al-Ajlan, the head of Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce, a "a non-government group of private sector business officials”, according to Reuters.
A Saudi official told the newswire that "The official authorities in the kingdom have not placed any restrictions on Turkish goods”.
One anonymous Saudi businessman told Reuters that Saudi customs officials had informally told him not to import goods from Turkey.
Turkish state news agency Anadolu commented on the boycott that "analysts are convinced that comments such as those made by Ajlan cannot be made without the "blessings” of the Saudi leadership, considering the kingdom’s poor record in granting freedom of expression to its citizens.”
Nevertheless, the war of words has been increasing, with Turkish President Erdogan saying on October 1 of the Persian Gulf states that "It should not be forgotten that the countries in question did not exist yesterday, and probably will not exist tomorrow”.