The leaders of Turkey and Iran called on Thursday for unity in Syria and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas urged that Israel be punished as the heads of eight Muslim-majority countries met in Cairo for the D-8 summit, following the ouster of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey historically backed Assad’s opponents, while Iran supported his rule.
The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.
In a speech at the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for reconciliation in Syria and the restoration of the country’s “territorial integrity and unity.”
He also voiced hope for “the establishment of a Syria free of terrorism,” where “all religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace.”
More
www.timesofisrael.com
Turkey historically backed Assad’s opponents, while Iran supported his rule.
The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.
In a speech at the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for reconciliation in Syria and the restoration of the country’s “territorial integrity and unity.”
He also voiced hope for “the establishment of a Syria free of terrorism,” where “all religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace.”
More
At Cairo summit, Muslim leaders envision Syria free of ethnic tensions, and of Israel
At D-8 conference of Muslim nations, Iran's Pezeshkian blames Israel for regional turmoil, PA's Abbas demands Jerusalem be 'held accountable and punished' for actions across region
www.timesofisrael.com
