Analysis: Turkish-Arab ties steered into new phase

Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Amr Moussa, and Special envoy to Algerian President Abdelaziz Belkhadem (L to R) pose for a group photo at Four Season Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 11, 2008, before attending the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum. (Chinese media/Zhang Ning)
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by Zhu Lei, Yan Yi

ISTANBUL, Turkey, Oct. 11 (Chinese media) -- The inaugural

meeting of foreign ministers between Arab nations and Turkey convened in the

largest Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday, marking the launch of the

Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum.

The establishment of such a new cooperation mechanism

between Turkey and Arab countries ushered in a new era of constructive bilateral

ties, politicians and analysts said.

　　"NEW ERA"

A joint statement issued after the meeting said the

participants believed establishment of the forum "will further expand and deepen

the relations in all fields between Turkey and the Arab countries by providing

an institutional framework to promote cooperation and comprehensive

consultations in all fields of mutual trust."

Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ahmed, Charge d'Affaires of the

Sudanese embassy in Turkey, told Chinese media that he believed the meeting signals a

"new era" of relations between Arab countries and Turkey, noting that the

establishment of such a cooperation mechanism will be "fruitful."

As a pivotal regional power, Turkey's active

participation in the Middle East peace process, especially in mediating indirect

talks between Syria and Israel, would help solve these chronic issues, he said.

Asked about reasons driving Ankara to reach out to

the Arab world, Ahmed said after the cold war, Turkey, faced by globalization,

inevitably wants to boost its political and economic clout in the Middle East.

"Turkey really wants a good and big relationship with

Arab countries," he said.

Turkish-Arab relations started to improve in the 1980s. Over the past few years, Ankara has taken significant steps to develop and diversify its relations, on both bilateral and multilateral basis, with the Arab world. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has established consultation mechanism with a number of Arab countries.

The inaugural ministerial meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum is held in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 11, 2008. (Chinese media Photo)
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INTERDEPENDENCY

Addressing the inaugural meeting, Turkish Foreign

Minister Ali Babacan said that Turkey and Arab states are confronted with

similar threats and problems, while they share the same goals and benefit from

common opportunities.

"Our countries should cooperate with each other in

order to cope with these problems and they (we) should search for solutions

together," he said.

In an exclusive interview with Chinese media, Arab League

(AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa said that the Turks are also affected by the

Middle East conflicts, which lead to Ankara's active involvement in helping

solve the long-standing Arab-Israeli confrontation.

The Arabs need an "overall relationship" with Turkey,

and vice versa, said Moussa on the sidelines of the Turkish-Arab meeting.

The Arab world needs Turkey's cooperation in solving

the Arab-Israeli conflicts, the situation in Iraq and Somalia, he said,

expecting Turkey's constructive role in these issues.

Unlike its NATO ally the United States, Turkey is now

enjoying good relations with all the major players in the region, said Alon

Ben-Meir, an analyst on the Middle East affairs.

To achieve this, it has improved relations with Iran,

mended a conflict over water with Syria, refrained from being dragged into the

war in Iraq, dramatically expanded trade and military cooperation with Israel,

and has become directly involved in Palestinian economic development, according

to Ben-Meir.

Ziyad Koprulu, a Qatari political expert on the

Middle East, said shortly before the opening of Saturday's meeting that Turkey

serves as a bridge between Arab and European nations.

The Arabs expect Turkey's EU membership so that the

relationship with it would facilitate their communication and cooperation with

the 27-member European bloc, said Koprulu.