Arabs, Turkey must Come Closer
Ankara’s relations with neighbouring countries have deteriorated due to various issues. This is due to Turkish diplomacy and its policy to protect its legitimate interests inside and outside the region.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK PARTİ) welcomed the victory of Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, in the 2012 presidential elections in Egypt. Political activists in Turkey expected stronger relations with Egypt following this victory. But the military coup led by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in July 2013 against Morsi, the country’s first elected president, spoiled the friendship between Cairo and Ankara. On regional and global affairs, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has emphasised from time to time that Ankara and Cairo may restore relations which have remained tense.
But the positivity did not last long, as Egypt presented 10 mandatory conditions for restoring full relations with Turkey. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has always stated that Turkey’s approach is rational and consistent with international law.
The Arab countries should not forget that the relations between Turkey and Israel have been disrupted due to the continuous Turkish support for the Palestinian cause, even though Palestine is primarily an Arab affair.
One of the most important areas to focus at present is that Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Turkey should work together to restore their own relations and discuss regional issues. The only way to reset this frozen friendship is to join in honest conversations about the hurdles.
(by Mohammed Ali Gholar in Daily Sabah, Istanbul)
Address Weakness in Arab League
The Arab League is unfortunately a weak regional organisation which depends for its existence on the contributions of Arab countries, particularly from oil rich Gulf nations which pay their shares. Without the Gulf financial support, the Arab League would not have been able to continue. Its role is now limited to supporting the Arab causes, other than those of the Gulf region.
The Arab League is suffering from structural and other practical and administrative disparities which Arab governments must confront without the usual gallantries. An example of structural defects is that the organisation is the only regional group in which one member country can have the advantages of having its headquarters and the post of Secretary-General. As for the administrative discrepancies, they are not few. One can see their examples in the secretariat general itself or in its affiliated bodies.
Who among us does not know that millions were collected in Damascus in exchange for lifting the boycott on some major companies? They did this despite chanting the slogan of Palestine and its cause and calling for strangling the Zionists and using the weapon of boycott those who deal with it. As for the joint chambers of commerce, they are useless and serve the interests of those who are close to it from among some Arab diaspora. These chambers spend from the proceeds of ratifying the certificates of origin of the Gulf countries.
(by Faisal Rashid Al Ghais in Al Qabas, Kuwait)
Compiled and Translated by Faizul Haque