Turkish President Erdogan warns against 'new Sykes-Picot order'
Speaking at the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Turkish leader also warned against a "new Sykes-Picot order" in the Middle East, in reference to a 1916 secret deal between Western powers to divide up the region.
'We will not allow the establishment of a new Sykes-Picot order in our region with borders to be drawn in blood,' said President Erdogan in Istanbul.
In 1916, the English and French met in secret to define their mutually agreed spheres of influence and control if the Ottoman Empire was partitioned - an agreement dependent on an Allied victory during World War I.
The agreement proposed France would have control or influence over modern-day Syria and Lebanon, and Britain over modern-day Iraq, Jordan and parts of Palestine.
President Erdogan also today described the conditions in Gaza as worse than those of Nazi concentration camps during his speech at the OIC meeting.
"2 million of our sisters and brothers in Gaza have been struggling to survive under these conditions for the past 21 months," the Turkish President said.
His comments come as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel as the conflict enters its second week.
The OIC is set to hold a special closed-door session Saturday evening at the request of Iran, according to Turkish media Anadolu news site.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Iran arrests European citizen accused of espionage
Iranian authorities have detained a European national on accusations of "spying on sensitive areas of the country." The individual's nationality has not yet been confirmed. According to Iranian media, the alleged spy was arrested while cycling through a restricted security zone in Markazi Province. The Tasnim news agency reported that the man entered Iran around the time that Israeli airstrikes began, although these details have not been independently verified. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has reportedly arrested 22 people in the city of Qom, accusing them of spying for Israel. 'Twenty-two individuals were identified and detained for allegedly being linked to Zionist intelligence services and for stirring up public unrest,' said the Fars news agency and cited by Portuguese news agency Lusa. Over the past week, Iranian authorities are believed to have executed several individuals accused of spying for Israel. Since the start of Israel's military operations, 13 people have reportedly been executed. In recent years, seven French citizens have been detained by Iranian authorities, with two still being held in custody. On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken wth his Iranian counterpart by phone, demanding the immediate release of the two remaining detainees. 'I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be freed. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I hope they will return to France soon,' Macron said. He also voiced "deep concern" over Iran's nuclear ambitions. 'My position remains clear: Iran must never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons, and it must provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful. I believe there is a path to ending the war and avoiding even greater risks. To that end, France and its European partners will step up negotiations with Iran,' Macron wrote on X. Cécile Kohler and her partner, Jacques Paris, were arrested in 2022 during a tourist visit to Iran. Tehran accuses them of espionage, an allegation their families strongly deny.
LeMonde
3 hours ago
- LeMonde
Leila Sansour, filmmaker: 'France's recognition of Palestine would summon others to follow'
On June 13, I stood among a group of Palestinian and Israeli delegates on the lawn of the Elysée Palace, listening to President Emmanuel Macron reiterate his commitment to recognizing the state of Palestine. Despite the gathering storms and the burdens of realpolitik, he seemed to be telling us he would stand firm. I, a Palestinian from Bethlehem, and a friend from Gaza stood at the edge of the crowd, clapping with everything we had – as if trying to breathe life into his words. In that moment, Macron looked rather presidential, especially against the backdrop of the managerial figures who now dominate global leadership. The spirit of the Republic was in the air – or so we chose to feel – amplified by the striking absence of overbearing security and Macron's willingness to freely mingle with the guests. My friend and I exchanged a glance. Could we dare believe that one world leader might still move by codes of honor, not cold calculation? We had long stopped hoping. Yet in that moment, the air was thick with fragile expectation. Foundational step But even as I write, history leans dangerously toward senseless ruin. The clash between Israel and Iran is unfolding before our eyes. And once again, the question of Palestine – the unfinished project – risks being pushed further into the margins of global attention. This war, horrific in its own right, is already obscuring the one conflict that has destabilized the region for decades. Yet, Palestine is not a sideshow. Its fate is a central node in the architecture of Middle Eastern peace. And, a nuclear Iran, should this become a reality, in a world where Palestine is free, is a very different equation than a nuclear Iran in a world where Palestinians still live under Israel's domination. It is with this in mind that I write – because we cannot wait. Postponing the recognition is not just illogical. It is dangerous. Western leaders have long argued that recognition should be the final act – the crowning achievement of a successful negotiation. The tragedy is: No real negotiation will ever begin without this foundational step. Recognition is what will make real talks possible. It defines the endgame and draws the map of an inevitable journey we must take – before the map is swallowed by chaos. It forces a reckoning with ambiguity and evasion. It tells all actors – Palestinians, Israelis, and the international community – what the future must include, so that the first steps can, at last, be taken.
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Euronews
Turkish President Erdogan warns against 'new Sykes-Picot order'
Speaking at the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Turkish leader also warned against a "new Sykes-Picot order" in the Middle East, in reference to a 1916 secret deal between Western powers to divide up the region. 'We will not allow the establishment of a new Sykes-Picot order in our region with borders to be drawn in blood,' said President Erdogan in Istanbul. In 1916, the English and French met in secret to define their mutually agreed spheres of influence and control if the Ottoman Empire was partitioned - an agreement dependent on an Allied victory during World War I. The agreement proposed France would have control or influence over modern-day Syria and Lebanon, and Britain over modern-day Iraq, Jordan and parts of Palestine. President Erdogan also today described the conditions in Gaza as worse than those of Nazi concentration camps during his speech at the OIC meeting. "2 million of our sisters and brothers in Gaza have been struggling to survive under these conditions for the past 21 months," the Turkish President said. His comments come as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel as the conflict enters its second week. The OIC is set to hold a special closed-door session Saturday evening at the request of Iran, according to Turkish media Anadolu news site.
