Kingdom, Turkey enter ‘a new era of cooperation’

[Zarvan]

• 
  
  STRATEGIC ALLIES: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend a guard of honor after the latter’s arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)
  

RIYADH: GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN

Published — Tuesday 3 March 2015

Last update 3 March 2015 5:32 am


Saudi Arabia and Turkey are embarking on a “new era” in their relations after talks between the nations’ leaders on Sunday, which included Yemen, Syria and Iran’s nuclear program, a senior diplomat said on Monday.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led the talks, accompanied by senior officials from both sides. “The wide-ranging talks between the two leaders were very fruitful,” said Adel bin Siraj Mirdad, Saudi ambassador to Turkey.
The visit “will open a new era of relations between the Kingdom and Turkey,” said Mirdad. The gathering marks a thaw in diplomatic ties between the two countries, several Saudi and Turkish officials said, but did not divulge more details.
Mirdad confirmed that the leaders discussed bilateral ties, the Middle East peace process, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Palestine, the threat of the Islamic State group and Iran’s nuclear program. “Turkey is an important country with which the Kingdom has had historic cordial relations,” said the envoy.
He said a number of “critical and dangerous issues were tackled by the two leaders very candidly” within the framework of the bilateral consultations on Sunday. The nations are crucial role players in regional peace and security initiatives, said Mirdad.
A top Turkish diplomat said that King Salman and Erdogan touched on all bilateral and regional issues during their meeting. “No separate meeting was held between Erdogan and other high-ranking Saudi officials, because all top Saudi and Turkish officials were present at the talks and at the lunch banquet,” he added.
Observers see Erdogan’s visit as an indicator of recovering relations between the two old allies. The Turkish president also attended King Abdullah’s funeral earlier this year.
The talks were attended by several members of the royal family and ministers including Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, deputy premier; Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif; second deputy premier and minister of interior; Mohammed bin Salman; minister of defense; Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, National Guard minister; and Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, deputy foreign minister.
Erdogan was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan, deputy prime ministers Yalcın Akdogan and Numan Kurtulmus, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, journalists and businessmen. Erdogan’s wife had a separate program in the Saudi capital. The Turkish president left for Ankara later on Sunday
Kingdom, Turkey enter ‘a new era of cooperation’ | Arab News
@Hakan @Mosamania @Rakan.SA @Sinan

 

[-SINAN-]

• 
  
  STRATEGIC ALLIES: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attend a guard of honor after the latter’s arrival in Riyadh. (SPA)

RIYADH: GHAZANFAR ALI KHAN

Published — Tuesday 3 March 2015

Last update 3 March 2015 5:32 am


Saudi Arabia and Turkey are embarking on a “new era” in their relations after talks between the nations’ leaders on Sunday, which included Yemen, Syria and Iran’s nuclear program, a senior diplomat said on Monday.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led the talks, accompanied by senior officials from both sides. “The wide-ranging talks between the two leaders were very fruitful,” said Adel bin Siraj Mirdad, Saudi ambassador to Turkey.
The visit “will open a new era of relations between the Kingdom and Turkey,” said Mirdad. The gathering marks a thaw in diplomatic ties between the two countries, several Saudi and Turkish officials said, but did not divulge more details.
Mirdad confirmed that the leaders discussed bilateral ties, the Middle East peace process, Yemen, Syria, Libya, Palestine, the threat of the Islamic State group and Iran’s nuclear program. “Turkey is an important country with which the Kingdom has had historic cordial relations,” said the envoy.
He said a number of “critical and dangerous issues were tackled by the two leaders very candidly” within the framework of the bilateral consultations on Sunday. The nations are crucial role players in regional peace and security initiatives, said Mirdad.
A top Turkish diplomat said that King Salman and Erdogan touched on all bilateral and regional issues during their meeting. “No separate meeting was held between Erdogan and other high-ranking Saudi officials, because all top Saudi and Turkish officials were present at the talks and at the lunch banquet,” he added.
Observers see Erdogan’s visit as an indicator of recovering relations between the two old allies. The Turkish president also attended King Abdullah’s funeral earlier this year.
The talks were attended by several members of the royal family and ministers including Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, deputy premier; Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif; second deputy premier and minister of interior; Mohammed bin Salman; minister of defense; Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, National Guard minister; and Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, deputy foreign minister.
Erdogan was accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan, deputy prime ministers Yalcın Akdogan and Numan Kurtulmus, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, journalists and businessmen. Erdogan’s wife had a separate program in the Saudi capital. The Turkish president left for Ankara later on Sunday
Kingdom, Turkey enter ‘a new era of cooperation’ | Arab News
@Hakan @Mosamania @Rakan.SA @Sinan

Great news.... the cooperation between two countries will even have impact on the entire ME region.

 

[Aepsilons]

@Sinan , any updates on those Altay Tanks?

 

[-SINAN-]

@Sinan , any updates on those Altay Tanks?

We have to wait till May bro. IDEF-2015 is coming, most possibly we will see the final prototype of the tank.

 

[Zarvan]

 

[ibo135]

Turks are expecting major strategic realignment in the region.

Hakan Fidan the ex-head of Milli Istihbarat Teskilati (MIT = national intelligence) was also in Saudi Arabia. Hakan Fidan in purple shirt. This is not good for Sisi. For Erdogan, Hakan Fidan is probably more important to him than Prime Minister Ahmed Davudoglu. Erdogan would probably adopt Hakan Fidan if he could. The two are that close. It is reported that Erdogan sent Hakan Fidan to Egypt to warn Morsi of the coming coup. Everyone knows how Erdogan feels in regards to Morsi. People bring out their finest china for their most important guests. That is what Hakan Fidan is. The very best of the Turkish State. His presence in Saudi Arabia means something major is happening.

Erdogan is a "dava adami". He is fighting for a cause. Erdogans relations with King Abdullah became hostile cos the Sauds supported the coup on Morsi. The price for normalization of relations is Sisi. Erdogan as a Turk as a Hanafi as a Maturidi as a Nakshibandi is also not happy with the ideology of the Sauds. Relations deteriorated till King Abdullah was hospitalized and Prince Salman ran the country. Then Erdogan sent Turkish warships for port calls in Saudi Arabia. Erdogan went to the funeral of King Abdullah and ordered Turkish flags at half-mast for the man that couped Morsi and supported Sisi. Erdogan goes to Saudi Arabia for talks. Hakan Fidan is there.

There is no way Erdogan would do any of these things unless King Salman accepted his terms for normalisation of relations.

Saudi Arabias strategic realignment was predicted in 2013. Those interested let us know so it is posted.

It is possible Nawaz Sharif is part of the strategic realignment in the region. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davudoglu was in Pakistan with Nawaz Sharif in february signing major agreements. It is possible this meeting in march was discussed. Otherwise Salman meeting Sisi, Erdogan, Sharif in three days dont make sense. Time will tell.

 

[xenon54 out]

Great news.... the cooperation between two countries will even have impact on the entire ME region.

Finaly something is happening, it would be stupid if the two biggest economies in ME waste potential.

 

[what]

Cooperation with crooks and criminals.

 

[lonelyman]

Finaly something is happening, it would be stupid if the two biggest economies in ME waste potential.

Isn't true Turks don't like Saudis? There was a survey Turks has the most negative view on Saudi among all muslim countries. 2 to 1 - unfavor vs favour

 

[SouI]

Isn't true Turks don't like Saudis? There was a survey Turks has the most negative view on Saudi among all muslim countries. 2 to 1 - unfavor vs favour

It is still the most favorable country among the Turks.

Look: The Turkish people don’t look favorably upon the U.S., or any other country, really | Pew Research Center

Turks have 26% favorability rate for KSA, which still is the biggest favorable rate for the Turks considering all other countries.

 

[usernameless]

It is still the most favorable country among the Turks.

Look: The Turkish people don’t look favorably upon the U.S., or any other country, really | Pew Research Center

Turks have 26% favorability rate for KSA, which still is the biggest favorable rate for the Turks considering all other countries.

i cant understand the low favorable view on Brazil. Outside soccer, we had no negative experience with them?
KSA is most probably due the political system, ignorance and stereotypes.
Still feel this pew research might be using shady tactics to give their own swing in the results and create an image they wish, this doesnt only count for Turkey.

 

[xenon54 out]

Isn't true Turks don't like Saudis? There was a survey Turks has the most negative view on Saudi among all muslim countries. 2 to 1 - unfavor vs favour

There are some Nationalistic people among booth people who dont like the opposite side due to historical reasons but i would say overally Turks are quite neutral about KSA.

 

[p4kistan]

Where is Pakistan on the PEW survey. I hope you guys have a 100% favourable view of pakistan.

 

[SouI]

i cant understand the low favorable view on Brazil. Outside soccer, we had no negative experience with them?
KSA is most probably due the political system, ignorance and stereotypes.
Still feel this pew research might be using shady tactics to give their own swing in the results and create an image they wish, this doesnt only count for Turkey.

No, the results are accurate. Google for more researches done on this subject. Such researches are done every year for almost all the countries.

The results are like this because we as a nation are so proud in general.