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Agencies
Kuwait City
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday began a key trip to the Gulf aimed at defusing the standoff between Qatar and Saudi Arabia-led bloc, saying no one had an interest in prolonging the crisis.
Erdogan, whose country has come to Qatar's aid in the dispute, held talks in Jeddah with King Salman who hailed the Turkish leader's"efforts in the fight against terrorism and its financing," Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
He also met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before leaving for Kuwait for the second leg of his tour.
Erdogan was received by Kuwait's Emir HH Sheikh Sabah al Ahmad al Jaber al Sabah, who has been mediating to resolve the crisis.
Erdogan and Kuwait's Emir discussed the latest developments in the region They also reviewed bilateral relations and means of enhancing them in all fields.
Erdogan will visit Qatar on Monday for his first face-to-face talks with the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani since the crisis began.
"No one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more," Erdogan said before leaving Istanbul.
Expressing regret over recent developments in the Gulf region, the Turkish President reaffirmed the need to"resolve differences in the region through peaceful means and through dialogue."
He accused"enemies" of seeking to"fire up tensions between brothers" in the region.
Erdogan praised Qatar's behaviour in the crisis, saying Doha had sought to find a solution through dialogue."Since the beginning of the Gulf crisis, Qatar has acted with great perseverance and has made great efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue," Erdogan said, describing the Emir's speech delivered two days ago as a right step towards a solution.
"I hope our visit will be beneficial for the region," he said.
Turkey is also setting up a military base in Qatar, its only such outpost in the region. It has expedited the process since the crisis began and reportedly now has 150 troops there.
"From the first moments of the crisis, we have been on the side of peace, stability, solidarity and dialogue," said Erdogan.
But Turkey also does not want to wreck its own relations with Saudi Arabia."As the elder statesman in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has a big role to play in solving the crisis," said Erdogan, taking care not to explicitly criticise the kingdom.
Erdogan said he supported the mediation efforts of Kuwait's Emir, a possible indication Ankara sees Kuwait as the key to solving the crisis.
Erdogan is likely to get a warm welcome in Doha where Turkey has been loudly applauded for sending in food, including fruit, dairy and poultry products by ship and by plane to help Doha beat an embargo.
