Kuwaiti Amir’s landmark visit set to strengthen relations with Turkey

11 years ago | Posted in: Latest Politics News | 779 Views

The official visit of Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Turkey on Monday is expected to have set the stage for increased economic, diplomatic and military ties as both countries agreed to give a fresh boost to already improving relations.
As part of a trip to Turkey to improve bilateral relations and hold talks on developments in the region al-Sabah had separate talks with President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, respectively at Çankaya Presidential Palace and at the prime minister’s official residence.

Coming to Turkey upon the invitation of Gül, Amir was received by Gül with a military ceremony. Within the scope of the visit to Turkey, al-Sabah also visited the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in Ankara, the Turkish capital, on Monday.

Turkey and Kuwait also signed eight agreements on Monday including deals on education and defense to improve bilateral relations between the two allies.

The eight agreements include deals covering civil aviation, education, arts and culture, defense, animal husbandry and travel. The agreements were signed between relevant ministers or officials of both countries after talks between Gül and al-Sabah in Çankaya Palace.

The deal on travel includes visa exemptions for Turkish nationals carrying diplomatic, special and service passports.

Ahmet Uysal, an expert on Turkey-Gulf relations and a lecturer of international relations at Eski?ehir Osmangazi University, stated that Turkey and Kuwait have close diplomatic relations, adding there was no serious issue that may strain the relationship between two countries.

With the increasing regional role of Turkey, all internal and external developments related to the country are closely followed by the Kuwaiti government, media and the public.

“Kuwait has an important position in Turkey’s new foreign policy. The role played by Turkey in the region is closely followed by Kuwait, which also appreciates Turkey’s regional initiatives,” Cahit Tuz, Middle East adviser in Turkey’s Parliament, told Today’s Zaman.

Tuz also added that Turkey is seen as an important regional power in Kuwait, adding that the Kuwaiti government demonstrates a positive and friendly approach in matters related to Turkey.

Bilateral relations between two countries have gained momentum in the recent years thanks to the increasing number of high level visits from both sides. Turkey and Kuwait have also signed several agreements that help to develop opportunities for cooperation in various fields.

“The high level visits from two sides also paved the way for the increasing of the economic cooperation. The promising diplomatic relations have a positive impact on economic cooperation,” said Tuz, adding Kuwaiti businessmen’s interest to Turkey have increased in recent years.

There has been an important rise in Kuwait-originated foreign direct investments in Turkey, which is considered as one of the priority investment destinations by Kuwaiti businessmen, who closely follows many privatization and investment projects in the country.

The Kuwaiti companies in Turkey operate mainly in finance, real estate, trade and industry sectors and show a growing interest to the privatization projects as well as for the purchase of firms.

On the other side, Turkish companies have undertaken various construction projects in Kuwait. During Gül’s visit to Kuwait in 2009, a Turkish – Kuwaiti Business Council meeting was held.

Gül’s visit to Kuwait was an important milestone in the relations between two countries as after the visit, Kuwait’s interest in Turkey increased.

Beside businessmen, Turkey is also a country that draws the attention of Kuwaiti tourists, whose number has increased in recent years.

Turkey, Kuwait see eye to eye on regional issues

Turkey and Kuwait have adopted a similar stance regarding the regional issues, particularly on the Syrian issue, in the diplomatic sphere.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu came together with his Kuwait counterpart Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on Monday. According to diplomatic sources, besides the economic and the bilateral issues, two ministers also exchanged views on the more than two-year-long conflict in Syria.

Kuwait, a tiny energy-rich Gulf country aspiring to take on a larger Mideast regional diplomatic role, criticizes the regime in Syria over its suppression of a pro-democracy uprising in the country. Turkey is also a country that seeks the fall of the Syrian regime.

Kuwait hosted the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in January to increase aid for Syrians.

“Kuwait supports Turkey and stands in the same line with the country on regional issues concerning both sides. In the Syrian issue, two states share the same view which involves the freedom for the Syrian people. The two countries are also against Iran’s intervention to the regional issues,” Uysal told Today’s Zaman.

Kuwait along with the other Gulf Arab states demanded Iran to end what they called interference in the region in late December. Iran sees the Gulf as its own backyard and believes it has a legitimate interest in expanding its influence there.

Touching upon the cooperation in the field of military between two countries, Uysal stated that Kuwait has a strong military cooperation with Turkey. “The increasing of the defense and military power of Iran discomforts the Gulf states. Therefore, these states feel the necessity to increase their military power and they consider Turkey as a reliable partner with which they can strengthen their military cooperation,” said Uysal.

Uysal also maintained that while the Gulf states have an increasing interest on Turkey, these countries do not receive the same interest from Turkey. “Turkey should further deepen its ties with these states in the future,” said Uysal.
source: http://www.todayszaman.com

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