Turkey slams Saudi 'non-cooperation', may seek UN inquiry over Khashoggi's murder

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it was unhappy with Riyadh's cooperation over the joint Turkish-Saudi investigation into the Saudi dissident's journal.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

21 November, 2018

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in New York City [Getty]

Turkey is unhappy with Riyadh's cooperation over the murder of insider-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month and may press for a UN inquiry, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu made the remarks in Washington on Tuesday after meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and reiterated that Ankara was determined to find who ordered the Washington Post journalist's death.

“Until now, we have accepted Saudi Arabia’s offers for cooperation with us without hesitation. However, looking at the cooperation now, since we can’t find answers to the questions I just listed, this cooperation is not at the level we want,” said Cavusoglu.

“If there is an impasse here and this investigation only goes so far or there isn’t full cooperation, then we can make the necessary applications for an international investigation,” he added.

Twitter Post

Cavusoglu also said that he discussed a potential UN inquiry with the agency's Secretary General Antonion Guterres.

Khashoggi was murdered at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on 2 October, with US and Turkish intelligence believing Prince Mohammed ordered the killing.

After weeks of denials and numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh finally admitted Khashoggi was killed in the consulate and his body was dismembered.

The US has sanctioned 17 Saudis for the crime, including close aides of Mohammed bin Salman.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously said the "highest levels" of the Saudi government ordered the hit, but stopped short of accusing MbS.

Cavusoglu added that audio recordings which Turkey says show the murder was premeditated, and which was shared with Western intelligence agencies, could be released to the wider public but the decision was up to the Turkish judiciary.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has pledged to remain a "steadfast partner" of the kingdom despite mounting international pressure on Saudi Arabia.

NBC had previously reported that Washington was considering expelling the Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen, who is based in the US and Ankara blames for the 2016 failed coup attempt, as a gesture so audio recordings of Khashoggi's murder are not released.

Cavusoglu also said on Tuesday Turkey handed the US a list of 84 people it wants extradited.

Trump has made Saudi Arabia and its powerful crown prince MbS the lynchpin of its regional strategy to contain Iran.

Follow us on Twitter: @The_NewArab