27 July 2016
DOHA: Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Demirok has expressed confidence that despite the recent foiled military coup attempt, the number of Qatari visitors to Turkey will not see a major decline.

"This unfortunate development has not discouraged our Qatari brothers and sisters from visiting Turkey. Right now we are not expecting too much decrease in the number of Qataris who visit Turkey," Demirok said in response to a question at a press conference at the Turkish Embassy yesterday.

Turkey was a top destination among Qataris last year, he said, though recent terrorist attacks that took place before the coup had an impact on tourism. "Turkey is a very popular destination and they would like to see it because we have similar culture and civilisation and relations between Turkey and Qatar," he said, adding Turkey offers many options such as culture, nature and historical sites.

On whether there had been any Qatari investment that suffered as a result of the coup attempt, he said, "I haven't heard of any Qatari investment which has been damaged by this event.

"We haven't received any reports. Qataris have shown solidarity with Turkey, they would like to help and invest more in Turkey."

Demirok said he believed the negative impact of the coup attempt on the Turkish economy will not be profound, but only temporary.

"I can assure you that the Turkish economy will not suffer permanently, despite a short-lived, downward impact on growth.

"Our economy's fundamentals remain the same today as they did on July 14, before the coup. Also, the aviation traffic returned to normal very shortly after the coup attempt failed," he stressed.

On the foiled coup's effect on the Turkish military base in Qatar, he said: "I don't expect any big change and the establishment of our military base is going on. It is a completely different issue."

Demirok reiterated his government's stance that the Fethullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) was behind the coup attempt and said "they have solid proof that this coup attempt was staged by FETÖ."

The ambassador also stressed the absence of any links of the terrorist group to any Qatar-based institution.

"Due to the firm stance of the government of Qatar, they (Gülen Group) are not so active in Qatar. They neither have a school nor an NGO. We are in close coordination with Qatari authorities and exchange views periodically in this regard," he stressed.

With regard to government efforts to extradite the group's leader Fethullah Gülen to Turkey, he said: "We are in contact with the US administration and a couple of ministers from Turkish cabinet will visit the US soon to discuss Gulen's extradition though time is not fixed yet," he said.

"We have agreement with the US and in line with it, we are expecting the US to extradite Gülen and other members of this terrorist organisation to Turkey. The US is a free and sovereign country and if they will take a political decision not to extradite this person, Turkey will revise our relations with the US."

He denied allegations of torture of detainees and said it is part of black propaganda against the government.

"Turkey is a democratic country and we have constitution and rules that have zero tolerance to torture. I assure you there is no torture and there will be no torture in Turkish prisons," he added.

© The Peninsula 2016