Turkish Daily News
Monday, October 8, 2001
King Abdullah to visit Turkey to coordinate efforts of mutual concerns
Mutual concerns such as the fight against terrorism as well as working together to bring moderate policies to prevail in the Muslim Middle East have been some of the common agendas that have brought Turkey and Jordan closer since 1996, the year that Turkey sealed its strategic alignment with Israel when military and defence industry cooperation agreements were signed between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
Being Turkey's closest ally after Israel in the Middle East, Jordan's King Abdullah has decided to have a half day working visit to Turkey this Saturday, Oct. 13, to coordinate efforts with Ankara over the United States' imminent strikes against Osama bin Laden's terrorist camps in Afghanistan, which Washington blamed for the unprecedented terrorist attacks against New York City and the Pentagon in Washington on Sept. 11.
King Abdullah will be accompanied by Prime Minister Ali Abu-al Raghib as well as other senior Jordanian officials for his short visit to Ankara during which he will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Although Abdullah's planned visit in November to Turkey will take place as scheduled, the developments taking place after the terrorist attacks against the United States, and Turkey's decision to open its bases and air space for U.S. transport aircraft has prompted the Jordanian king to make a visit to Ankara earlier to hear Sezer and Turkey's views on recent developments as well as the effects the attacks against the United States have had in the Middle East region. Turkey, a NATO ally, is predominantly Muslim but secular by constitution.
King Abdullah will come to Ankara following his scheduled visit to some European countries this week.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, King Abdullah has visited the United States as well as Egypt.
His sudden decision to visit Ankara has also stemmed from Jordanian concerns over whether Turkey would open its bases to the United States in the situation that they may use the terrorist attack to finish off Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Although the United States has not so far announced the next phase of its terrorist campaign following the awaited strikes against terrorist targets in Afghanistan, many Arab countries including Jordan as well as Turkey still carry concerns of a possible U.S. strike against Iraq with the claims that bin Laden supporters are also harbored in this country.
But Turkey itself has made clear on many occasions that the United States' fight against terrorism should not be used as a pretext to stage strikes against other countries such as Iraq. Turkey, learning its lessons from the Gulf War of 1991 when U.S.-led coalition forces threw Iraqi forces out of Kuwait prompting Ankara to close down its vital Kerkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline with Iraq and strictly abiding by U.N. sanctions, has been pursuing a very cautious strategy to avoid being trapped for a second time. Turkey's economic losses from an almost 10 year embargo against its southeastern neighbor Iraq has not only inflicted Ankara with huge economic costs but it has also had political and security effects.
King Abdullah, during his talks with Sezer, is also expected to listen to the Turkish views over how the U.S. strikes against terrorists will affect the shaping of a new world and any possible role Ankara may have in that.
Turkey and Jordan have been exchanging information on terrorist activities and the heads of both countries' secret services are having close contacts. The Turkish and Jordanian militaries enjoy close contacts too with joint land exercises being staged from time to time.
Jordan has been facing terrorist threats influencing its security and stability while harming its economy, due to its moderate policies.
Ankara - Turkish Daily News