Peter Altmaier
German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said he welcomed Austria's proposal for a joint European position on arm exports to Saudi Arabia, he told German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk (DLF) on Friday.
Germany's government has agreed to not deliver weapons to the country at the moment, he said in an interview during a visit to Turkey, adding that the effect of that decision would be stronger if European countries adopted a common position.
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said on Thursday the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate this month was premeditated, reversing previous official statements that the killing was unintended.
Business with Turkey must remain possible
Germany has an interest in Turkey not becoming unstable, Altmaier told German broadcaster Deutschlandfunk (DLF) during a trip to Turkey, on which he was accompanied by a delegation of German business representatives.
"I have defended the interests of German companies here that say: 'We feel insecure in our activities in Turkey'," he added.
Turkish investigators have recorded statements of 38 employees of the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, as part of a probe into killing of journalist Kamal Khashoggi, judicial sources said on Thursday.Since Oct. 19, the investigators have recorded statements of 38 consulate employees as “witnesses”, with five more staffers yet to give their statements, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.A columnist for The Washington Post, Khashoggi was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.Turkey only allowed to take water sample from well at Saudi consulateAccording to the sources, the employees were asked whether anything out of the ordinary had occurred at the consulate on the day of the journalist’s disappearance and if they had seen the entry of Khashoggi or any of the 15-person group from Saudi Arabia who might be responsible for the journalist’s killing.After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that the journalist had been killed inside the consulate.Separately, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad bin Salman on Thursday chaired a meeting of a newly created committee tasked with restructuring the Saudi intelligence apparatus, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi murder premeditatedAmid the ongoing furor over Khashoggi’s death, Saudi King Salman has sacked the deputy head of the Saudi intelligence agency -- and a top aide -- while also ordering the arrest of 18 suspects in the case.Meanwhile, world leaders continue to urge the Saudi authorities to clarify the circumstances of the journalist’s killing.Saudi Crown Prince's men in Khashoggi killingAll involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FM
Turkey takes statements of 38 Saudi Consulate employees
Turkish security forces were not allowed to search the garden and well of Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, however, water samples were taken from the well.Since Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance more than three weeks ago, Turkish and Saudi authorities have carried out multiple searches at the consulate and consul general's residence in Istanbul.After weeks of conflicting accounts about the fate of the journalist, Saudi Arabia at the weekend said Khashoggi had been killed in a fight at the consulate, in what U.S. President Donald Trump later called the "worst cover-up ever".Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he would not let those responsible for Khashoggi's killing escape justice, and has urged Saudi Arabia to search from "top to bottom" to uncover those behind the killing.Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi murder premeditatedSaudi Crown Prince's men in Khashoggi killingAll involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FMCIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: Report
Turkey only allowed to take water sample from well at Saudi consulate
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presided over the first meeting of a committee to restructure the command of the general intelligence agency, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Thursday.Saudi prosecutor confirms Khashoggi murder was plannedSaudi Crown Prince's men in Khashoggi killingAll involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FMCIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: Report
Saudi crown prince presides over committee to restructure intel agency
Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said on Thursday the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was premeditated, citing a joint Saudi-Turkish investigation, state media reported.Saudi officials had earlier said an internal investigation suggested Khashoggi was killed in a botched operation to "negotiate" his return to the kingdom. Initially, Riyadh denied having anything to do with Khashoggi's disappearance after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.Turkey and Western allies of Riyadh have voiced deep doubt towards Saudi explanations of the killing. Turkey has dismissed Saudi efforts to blame rogue operatives and urged the kingdom to search "top to bottom" for those responsible for the killing."Information from the Turkish side affirms that the suspects in Khashoggi's case premeditated their crime," a statement from the Saudi public prosecutor said.Saudi Crown Prince's men in Khashoggi killingSaudi prosecutors are interrogating suspects on the basis of information provided by a joint Saudi-Turkish task force, the statement carried by the Saudi state news agency added.Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the two discussed the steps needed to bring to light all aspects of the killing, Saudi and Turkish media said on Wednesday.CIA director Gina Haspel heard an audio recording of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during her visit to Turkey this week, two sources told Reuters on Thursday.On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that as Riyadh's paramount ruler, Prince Mohammed bore ultimate responsibility for the operation that led to Khashoggi's death.All involved in Khashoggi murder must be tried in Turkey: FMIn a separate statement, SPA said the crown prince presided over the first meeting of a committee to restructure the kingdom's intelligence services.The meeting evaluated current practices and set up recommendations to improve the agencies' work, it said.British Prime Minister Theresa May joined other Western leaders on Wednesday and expressed scepticism about the Saudi explanation of Khashoggi's death, saying it lacked credibility.Khashoggi affair ‘won’t drive wedge’ between Saudi, TurkeySaudi Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih conceded on Wednesday that the scandal over Khashoggi had hurt the kingdom's image."It's not a death, it's a murder. We admit it, we're dealing with it. As such, we will be transparent and show our allies and friends in the United States ... that the kingdom is as unhappy about what has happened as anybody else," he told CNN on the sidelines of an investment conference in the capital Riyadh."In fact, we are more unhappy because it has tarnished the name of the kingdom," he added. CIA director hears Khashoggi murder tape: Report
Saudi Arabia says Khashoggi murder premeditated