AK Party Deputy Chairman Numan Kurtulmuş
Turkey on Wednesday accused the United States of trying to turn a blind eye to the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, and dismissed comments from President Donald Trump on the issue as "comic".
Trump vowed on Tuesday to remain a "steadfast partner" of Saudi Arabia, despite saying that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about the plan to murder to Khashoggi, a U.S. resident and Washington Post columnist.
Of the possibility Prince Mohammed had a hand in the murder, Trump said: "Maybe he did, maybe he didn't". His comments contradicted the CIA, which believes Khashoggi's death was ordered directly by the crown prince, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler.
Numan Kurtulmuş, the deputy chairman of President Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, dismissed Trump's assessment. "Yesterday's statement is a comic statement," he told state broadcaster TRT Haber.
"It is not possible for an intelligence agency such as the CIA, which even knows the colour of the fur on the cat walking around the Saudi consulate's garden ... to not know who gave this order," he said. "This is not credible either for U.S. public opinion or the world public opinion."
Since Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month, Turkey has repeatedly said the order came from the "highest levels" of the Saudi government, although it has not directly accused Prince Mohammed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have known about journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing, but he intends to "remain a steadfast partner" with the kingdom.“Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!" Trump said in a White House statement.It comes after a report in which the CIA concluded with high confidence that bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing.Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and columnist for The Washington Post, went missing after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.After initially saying he left the consulate alive, the Saudi administration admitted weeks later he was killed there.The president also said contracts signed with Saudi Arabia worth around $450 billion have created thousands of jobs, and "have worked closely" with the U.S. on stabilizing oil prices.Out of the $450 billion investment, Saudi Arabia pledged to buy $110 billion worth of weapons, however, some defense analysts have determined only $14.5 billion in recorded sales, according to the New York Times."The United States intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia to ensure the interests of our country, Israel and all other partners in the region," Trump said."I understand there are members of Congress who, for political or other reasons, would like to go in a different direction – and they are free to do so," Trump added. "I will consider whatever ideas are presented to me, but only if they are consistent with the absolute security and safety of America."US Senator Graham sees bipartisan support for Saudi sanctionsIran slams Trump's 'shameful' statement on Khashoggi
Trump defends Saudi Arabia despite Khashoggi killing
Turkey is not entirely satisfied with the level of cooperation it is receiving from Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and may seek a formal United Nations inquiry over the issue if its liaising with Riyadh comes to an impasse, Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Tuesday.Speaking to reporters in Washington meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Cavusoglu said Turkey has shared the latest information on the Khashoggi killing with the United States and repeated Ankara's stance that the truth had to come out on who gave the orders to kill the journalist.Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist who was a critic of the Saudi government run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. US Senator Graham sees bipartisan support for Saudi sanctionsIran slams Trump's 'shameful' statement on Khashoggi
Turkey says will seek UN inquiry if impasse in cooperation with Saudis
Saudi Arabia has denied that the crown prince ordered the killing. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said last week Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when "negotiations" to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.
Trump said Saudi Arabia, a major oil producer, was an important business partner and a "great ally" in the fight against Iranian power in the Middle East.
Following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara is not entirely satisfied with the level of cooperation it is receiving from Saudi Arabia regarding the case.
Cavusoglu said Ankara may seek a formal United Nations inquiry if its liaising with Riyadh comes to an impasse.