'World is wondering who ordered Khashoggi killing'

By Yildiz Nevin Gundogmus and Mehmet Yilmaz Gundas

ANKARA

The world is wondering who ordered the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi from the top, said a spokesman of Turkey's ruling party on Wednesday.

“This could not have been done without an order from the top. The world wants to know: Who gave the order from the top?” Omer Celik, ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party spokesperson, told a press conference in the capital Ankara.

Celik reiterated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call on Saudi Arabia to hand over the 18 arrested people to Turkey for trial, adding that the whole world should support the call.

“Saudi Consulate is on Saudi territory but within the Republic of Turkey," he said, adding that Turkey views the killing as an attack on its sovereignty.

“It’s an attack on freedom of press, human life, Vienna Convention, as well as the dignity of the Republic of Turkey,” he said.

“So they should be tried here [in Turkey]," Celik added.

Finding remains

He said it was crucial to find Khashoggi's remains, adding: “Without replying to all these questions, the move to cover the killing or trying to make a political project out of it, doesn’t give any results.”

Celik also said Turkey "firmly condemns" the French foreign minister's recent remarks critical of Erdogan’s handling of the Khashoggi case.

“We want to express that we find it surprising and odd that the foreign minister of a deep-rooted state such as France speaks in such irresponsible, ignorant manner,” he said.

Celik went onto say: “If there is a coordination problem among French institutions, […] if French foreign minister isn’t following such a matter, this is their problem.”

He noted that details of the Khashoggi case were shared with the French intelligence.

“If the French foreign minister follows the issue, but the intelligence agency didn’t inform him, this is another problem,” Celik said.

On Saturday, Erdogan said Ankara had shared recordings related to the Khashoggi killing with Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Germany, France and the U.K.

On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed that -- contrary to Erdogan -- France doesn't have the recordings, also claiming that Erdogan was playing “a political game” over the case.

Khashoggi, a frequent contributor to The Washington Post, was killed on Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After weeks of denying involvement, the kingdom admitted Khashoggi had been killed inside the consulate but claimed the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge of any plot to murder the journalist.

So far, 18 people -- including security officers -- have been arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the murder.

European army

On the recent debate over a proposed European army, Celik said: "Three or five years ago this would have been unthinkable. It clearly shows an emerging crack in the transatlantic alliance."

U.S. President Donald Trump last week lashed out at French President Emanuel Macron's proposal for a European army, calling it "insulting."

Celik said: "For the first time a U.S. leader made statements against the integration of Europe."

Celik added that regardless of whether NATO or a European army is used, no security can be ensured in either the Balkans or Europe as a whole without Turkish involvement.