Germany to set response with Europe over Khashoggi case

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

Germany would coordinate a response to Saudi Arabia with its European partners if the investigation proves that the missing Saudi journalist was murdered in his consulate in Istanbul, the foreign minister said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in Berlin, Heiko Maas reiterated his call on Saudi authorities to contribute to a full and timely investigation into the claims that Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul.

“As soon as we hear Saudi Arabia’s statement, we will quickly draw our conclusions, and we will do this in coordination with our European partners,” he said, referring to potential political or economic measures against Riyadh.

Maas underlined that Berlin awaits the outcome of the investigation and Saudi Arabia’s expected statement on the incident.

Journalist Khashoggi is missing since he entered Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

On that same day, 15 Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the building while Khashoggi was still inside, Turkish police sources said. All of the identified individuals have since left Turkey.

Saudi authorities have yet to give a clear explanation of Khashoggi’s fate, while several countries -- particularly Turkey, the U.S. and the U.K. -- have expressed their desire that the matter should be elucidated as soon as possible.