Turkish PM seeks regional unity in Mideast
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Fulya Özerkan
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 31, 2008 00:00
ANKARA - Prime Minister Erdoğan will urge the Arab world to brush aside differences and unite in a bid to exercise pressure on both Israel and the international community for a cease-fire. The efforts could help eliminate the split between Hamas and al-Fatah
Embarking on a regional tour of Middle Eastern countries excluding Israel on Wednesday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will attempt to alleviate regional tension in the wake of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.
Analysts said Turkish efforts may yield results, but they would not be enough to ensure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
"Erdoğan can play an influential role only in eliminating the division among the Palestinians, namely between Hamas and al-Fatah," veteran diplomat Özdem Sanberk told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Erdoğan’s tour will encompass Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, said government spokesman Cemil Çiçek after Monday’s cabinet meeting. "Turkey is ready to do what it can to stop the bloodshed," he said, without providing details about Erdoğan’s itinerary.
İlter Turan, political analyst at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, called the trip a "symbolic" one that would not bring the Israeli assault to a halt. "Hamas and Israel are the parties that need to be convinced," he said.
For his part, Erdoğan will urge the Arabic world to brush aside their differences and unite in a bid to exercise pressure on both Israel and the international community for a ceasefire, the Daily News learned.
He will tell the four countries’ leaders that Hamas and al-Fatah, whose disagreement is a major source of instability in the region, should act together, likewise the Islamic and Arabic world, it has been revealed. Erdoğan will say an immediate ceasefire must be declared, humanitarian aid must have access to Gaza and the diplomacy should be given a chance to stop the assaults.
Earlier, Erdoğan sharpened criticism at Israel over airstrikes calling them a crime against humanity. In a more balanced approach, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Israel’s move led to profound regret and disappointment in Turkey, but also urged Hamas, which controls Gaza, to halt rocket attacks on Israel, following talks with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit, who was in Ankara to discuss the crisis.
"This is not an inconsistent. Ambiguity is an instrument in diplomacy," said Sanberk. "The Palestinian plight enjoys widespread sympathy in Turkey. The prime minister is acting as spokesman for the feelings of that strong group in Turkey, otherwise there would be instability, his criticism-laden rhetoric is preventing an outcry among the populace against Israel, while the foreign minister is setting the balance," he said.
Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, is Israel’s main regional ally and also has close ties with Palestinians. Turkey has intensified diplomatic contacts at the international level with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan calling for an urgent meeting of Islamic countries in mid-January. President Abdullah Gül held telephone conversations with his Egyptian and Iranian counterparts this week, Hosni Mobarak and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
According to presidency sources, the president is conveying the message to the leaders he spoke with on the phone that everyone should do they share to prepare a convenient ground for the new U.S. administration so that it can contribute to peace in the Middle East, referring to President-elect Barack Obama's interest in taking new initiatives in the Middle East.
Analysts said Turkish efforts may yield results, but they would not be enough to ensure a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
"Erdoğan can play an influential role only in eliminating the division among the Palestinians, namely between Hamas and al-Fatah," veteran diplomat Özdem Sanberk told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
Erdoğan’s tour will encompass Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, said government spokesman Cemil Çiçek after Monday’s cabinet meeting. "Turkey is ready to do what it can to stop the bloodshed," he said, without providing details about Erdoğan’s itinerary.
İlter Turan, political analyst at Istanbul’s Bilgi University, called the trip a "symbolic" one that would not bring the Israeli assault to a halt. "Hamas and Israel are the parties that need to be convinced," he said.
For his part, Erdoğan will urge the Arabic world to brush aside their differences and unite in a bid to exercise pressure on both Israel and the international community for a ceasefire, the Daily News learned.
He will tell the four countries’ leaders that Hamas and al-Fatah, whose disagreement is a major source of instability in the region, should act together, likewise the Islamic and Arabic world, it has been revealed. Erdoğan will say an immediate ceasefire must be declared, humanitarian aid must have access to Gaza and the diplomacy should be given a chance to stop the assaults.
Earlier, Erdoğan sharpened criticism at Israel over airstrikes calling them a crime against humanity. In a more balanced approach, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Israel’s move led to profound regret and disappointment in Turkey, but also urged Hamas, which controls Gaza, to halt rocket attacks on Israel, following talks with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit, who was in Ankara to discuss the crisis.
"This is not an inconsistent. Ambiguity is an instrument in diplomacy," said Sanberk. "The Palestinian plight enjoys widespread sympathy in Turkey. The prime minister is acting as spokesman for the feelings of that strong group in Turkey, otherwise there would be instability, his criticism-laden rhetoric is preventing an outcry among the populace against Israel, while the foreign minister is setting the balance," he said.
Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, is Israel’s main regional ally and also has close ties with Palestinians. Turkey has intensified diplomatic contacts at the international level with Foreign Minister Ali Babacan calling for an urgent meeting of Islamic countries in mid-January. President Abdullah Gül held telephone conversations with his Egyptian and Iranian counterparts this week, Hosni Mobarak and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
According to presidency sources, the president is conveying the message to the leaders he spoke with on the phone that everyone should do they share to prepare a convenient ground for the new U.S. administration so that it can contribute to peace in the Middle East, referring to President-elect Barack Obama's interest in taking new initiatives in the Middle East.