08.01.2005, 23:33
Die Nahostreise Güls, macht die Türkei in der Region Einflussreicher:
Zitat:Team Harmony Makes Turkey more Influential in the Middle East
The most important development as a result of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's four day visit to Israel, Palestine and Jordan was the proof that Turkey exists in the region. Israel gave great weight to the visit, which was delayed for different reasons for a long time, and made many concessions for Turkey that it doesn't give to other guests.
Turkish Foreign Ministry and journalists were not subject to passport control while entering Israel and were swiftly taken to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. A cheerful crowd greeted Gul at al Aqsa Mosque, whereas the former Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Mahir, was harassed there with shoes. The ninth of Iraq's neighbors meeting, which began with Turkey's help, concluded successfully.
Although the Turkish, diplomatic effort in the Middle East, considered "the second ring" after the European Union (EU), had no tangible outcome, Turkey's presence left a strong impression.
Gul visited Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and prayed with his wife. Israel didn't react negatively because Gul then visited Israel's genocide monument, and brought a message from Syria.
Turkey's policy of balance will provide it with the opportunity to play a part in the region. There is no other country in the region that can help the arrival of a compromise between Israel, Palestine and Syria, that will receive the support of US; there is not another force that Israeli can surrender the Gaza Strip to with confidence.
The trip in the region also showed that the political and bureaucratic sector that conducts Turkish diplomacy could play a team game. The political sector consisted of Gul and his advisers, and Foreign Ministry bureaucrats, exhibiting an "elder brother-younger brother" relationship. Sometimes diplomats did not have the opportunity to see journalists, who tried to pressure the Minister.
Neighbor summit is in its homeland
The practical success of the "Iraq's Neighbors" meetings, the ninth of which was in Amman the other day (January 6), was that countries' were speaking the same language. After a long discussion in the first meeting, a joint declaration was signed in Amman after a short time. In "the delegations of 'rivals'" countries that look askance at one another, countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, Iraq and Kuwait, sat side-by-side and had an opportunity to know each other, and to listen to the others thoughts. Since the participants were the same in spirit, friendships improved, the exchange of gifts ensued and dinners or lunches were ordered. Publishing the similar expressions provided thoughts of neighbor countries to be recorded in official documents of United Nations (EU) and taking Iraq's integrity under international guarantee. Furthermore, Turkey, the creator of the meetings, which, it claimed, were not appreciated, will make disputing brothers come together for the 10th time as being the host country.
With Gul's Middle East trip Turkey had opportunity to show its authority in the region and the real policies. While refreshing confidence to countries, sent message to beyond Atlantic; it promised "power" to Europe. Ankara demonstrated that it knew the region and furthermore, had the glue to paste together the broken parts. The Foreign Ministry gave a vigorous position as in Cyprus and the EU processes by ridding itself of dysfunction.
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