[Al Jazeera] ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire....
has rejected a call from four Arab countries to shut down its military base in Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates...
, saying the base was a guarantor of security in the Gulf and demands for its closure represented interference in its ties with Doha.
Defence Minister Fikri Isik told Turkish broadcaster NTV that he had not yet seen a request for the closure of the base, but made clear his country had no plans to review a 2014 agreement with Qatar which led to it being set up.
His reaction comes after Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
and other Arab countries, boycotting Qatar over alleged support for "terrorism", reportedly issued a list of demands including closing down the military installation.
"If there is such a demand, it will mean interference in bilateral ties," Isik said in an interview on Friday.
Qatar welcomes Turkish troops, wraps up war game with US
"The base in Qatar is both a Turkish base and one that will preserve the security of Qatar and the region.
"It is an important military base and no country should be disturbed by it."
Five armoured vehicles and 23 military personnel arrived in Doha on Thursday in a deployment that Turkey's armed forces said was part of a military training and cooperation deal.
Some 88 Turkish soldiers were already in Qatar, according to the Hurriyet newspaper.
The newspaper said a joint exercise by Turkish and Qatari forces was expected following the Islamic Eid al-Fitr holiday which starts on Sunday and the number of Turkish soldiers sent to the Gulf state could eventually reach 1,000.