1. TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Feb. 28,2012
TURKEY AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Remarks by
Ambassador Emeritus Murat N. Ersavcı
Hasselt University
Turkey and the Middle East

2. TURKEY - THE MIDDLE EAST and NORTH AFRICA

3. Turkey and the Middle East
FOUR PRINCIPLES
Security for all. If we need security, others need it as well.
Resolve all disputes through political dialogue and interaction We must keep our channels open with everybody.
Economic interdependence Needed to achieve and ensure a sustainable peace.
Cultural harmony and mutual respect : crucial to pre-empt deepening of cultural and religious fault-lines on a global scale.
Turkey and the Middle East

4. Turkey and the Middle East
GENERAL STRATEGY
End disputes and increase stability in the region
Resolve conflicts whenever possible.
Seek innovative mechanisms and channels to encouraging positive change.
Build cross-cultural bridges of dialogue and understanding.
Turkey and the Middle East

5. IMPLEMENTATION VEHICLES
Economic integration High Level Strategic Cooperation Councils Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan Egypt
Free Trade and Visa Exemption Agreements Regional goal: a zone for free movement of goods and persons between Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.
Quadripartite High Level Cooperation Council
Turkey and the Middle East

6. Turkey and the Middle East
OTHER MECHANISMS
Turkish-Arab Forum (with the Arab League in 2007.)
High Level Strategic Dialogue with the Gulf Cooperation Council in September 2008
Goal : to advance cooperation and hold regular consultations on the multilateral level.
Turkey and the Middle East

7. TURKEY AND THE PALESTINIANS
Palestinian State: an Immediate necessity.
An independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital living in peace and security with the State of Israel.
Turkey welcomes Palestine’s full membership of UNESCO. A message to the UN Security Council. 
 We welcome and support the Quartet’s efforts for the resumption of the negotiations between the two parties.
Meaningful negotiations can take place only on an equal footing. Israelis have enjoyed statehood since 1948.
Turkey and the Middle East

8. TURKISH ISRAELI RELATIONS
Strong ties of Jewish-Turkish friendship across the centuries.
Wrecked on 31 May 2010 by the killing of eight Turks and one Turkish American on a humanitarian mission.
Turkey expects an apology and compensation.
If it receives these, relations will be normalised. Without them, they cannot be.
Turkey and the Middle East

9. Turkey and the Middle East
Turkey and Egypt
Full solidarity with the people of Egypt on their journey to democracy.
Swift and orderly transition needed.
Important for the region.
Turkey and the Middle East

10. Prime Minister Erdoğan’s visit to Libya September 2011