Erdogan Thanks Saudi Arabia For Post-Coup Solidarity

ANKARA (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan thanked the crown prince of Saudi Arabia on Friday for the solidarity his country has shown following the July 15 coup attempt. Erdogan welcomed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz al-Saud with an official ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. Erdogan awarded the crown prince the second highest state decoration for foreign nationals, the Order of the Republic.Speaking at the ceremony, Erdogan said it was a symbol given especially to foreign statesmen for their "contribution in developing friendly relations between two countries and bringing respective nations close to each other." "I want to thank you once more for the solidarity shown toward our people and our country following the July 15 bloody coup attempt," he said. Erdogan said that the enrichment and the development of relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in all fields "offer opportunities for regional and global stability".The crown prince, who also holds the posts of first deputy prime minister and interior minister, for his part once more, expressed his great happiness that Turkey successfully overcame the coup attempt. He added that one of the issues pleasing Saudi Arabian leaders was that "the two countries are on the same line and have the same thinking on all issues, regional and others."Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave a luncheon in honor of the crown prince. Turkish Parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar attended the luncheon. -