The Chairman of the International Relations Bureau of the Patriotic Party (Turkey), Retired Lieutenant General İsmail Hakkı Pekin, held a press conference on 27 March 2015. In the press conference he evaluated the recent developments in Yemen. The statement is below:
We are observing with great concern the on-going internal conflict in Yemen. This conflict obviously constitutes a Proxy War, endangering regional peace.
Fuelled by external intervention, the conflict has entered a new, dangerous phase and caused a situation that can set a region-wide fire.
The intervention of the Air Forces of 10 countries in the leadership of Saudi Arabia, can cause a bigger armed conflict and bring the region to the edge of war.
A ground operation following the air campaign will spread the continuing fire further.
In this regard, all foreign interventions should be stopped immediately. We suggest the installation of a peacekeeping force within the UN context in Yemen that aims at cooling down tension.
Otherwise, the way will be paved for an ethnic and sectarian conflict that can last for years and even cause a regional war with the active participation of the states in the region.
It is considered an urgent need that a peacekeeping force is deployed to Yemen to bring peace and establish public order.
It should not be forgotten that, as long as foreign interventions continue, the conflict will not cease, but further deepen.
Therefore, we call above all the regional states involved in the incident in Yemen and the global powers that guide them to calm down the conflict.
We are advocating the union of the countries in the region.
Causing a Sunni-Shiite conflict in the region is the plan of the USA. Egypt and Iran should certainly not oppose each other.
We are for the union of all regional countries against sectarian conflicts. The cooperation of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Azerbaijan and the other countries of the region will bring peace to the region.
All foreign powers should stay away from Yemen.
R. Lt. Gen. İsmail Hakkı Pekin
Chairman
International Relations Bureau
Patriotic Party (Turkey)