Turkey-Egypt Ties after Mavi Marmara
-DR. ABDUL RUFF
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I
Probably on special diplomatic push, if not strict instruction exactly, from Washington, On 12 Sept Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has garnered popularity among Arabs for his denunciations of Israel, arrived in Cairo, Egypt as part of a tour of three Arab states that recently ousted their leaders. His tour will continue with a visit to Tunisia, where the popular overthrow of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January sparked similar movements across the region, eventually affecting sovereign Libya where Col. Qaddafi ruled against the wishes of western terrocracies eying on Libyan oil.
Erdogan undertook the tour, ostensibly to support for Egypt’s transition to “democracy”. However, media reports suggest that Erdogan is expected to offer both practical help, in the form of trade, investment and financial aid for Egypt’s economy, badly hit by the political turbulence, and the inspiration of Turkey’s own democratic transformation.
The assertive Turkish leader was met by an enthusiastic crowd in Cairo. He is expected to set out details of that assistance in an address to Arab League foreign ministers and exact agenda of his itinerary is not yet revealed. The size of the prime minister’s delegation, just like that of USA, UK or Indian leaders, – is big – more than 200 people including ministers, officials and representatives – matches his big ambitions in a possibly changing the Middle East under the CIA maneuverings.
Turkey and Egypt have resolved to upgrade relations almost in all fields during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo last week. The visit comes following Turkey downgrading the level of its diplomatic relations with Israel to the level of second secretary, the lowest since the early 1980s, as a result of Tel Aviv rejecting to issue an apology to Turkey for the killing of nine Turkish citizens onboard the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara vessel in international waters in the East Mediterranean. During Erdoğan’s visit, the two countries also signed a strategic declaration to establish a High Strategic Council, an umbrella body covering cooperation in fields such as economic, technical, military, agriculture, education and others. This agreement will uplift the cooperation and turn it into a real strategic relationship.
As a major step towards strengthening the ties, Turkey and Egypt have intensified maritime cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea by launching new Ro-Ro lines. The move comes after Turkey warned Israel of a more visible Turkish military presence in the waters to protect free maritime navigation. They have reiterated that their maritime cooperation is for peaceful purposes and respect and ask everyone to respect free passage in international waters. This is not at all directed at any third party but rather is a model for the region to show how countries should cooperate with each other. Salaheldin, ambassador of Egypt to Ankara said this should not be disputed under any pretext . Israel recently broke its fragile relationship with Egypt after it arrogantly killed five Egyptian policemen on the border.
II
A major arms merchant and sea robber nation protected b USA and EU, Israel sells weapons to India and Turkey to kill Muslims. But it refuses any nation that offers arms to defenseless Palestinians. Turkey has already got the last of 10 advanced drones, or unmanned aircraft, and Turkey does not plan to buy any more. But it may still need Israeli technical assistance to operate those drones, which play an important role in the war against Kurdish insurgents. In the past, the Turkish armed forces might have been able to stop such a break in relations with their Israeli counterparts. Most of the deals with Israeli companies, like the upgrading of Turkey’s US-made jets and tanks, have already been completed. And both USA and Israel are putting pressure on Turkish military to do more for Israel. But this year, bad luck for Zionist regime, the generals are for the first time firmly under the thumb of a civilian government, which is determined to show its displeasure with Israel, says our correspondent.
Erdogan visit came when Israel behaved in an arrogant fashion as it always does with Palestinians and Lebanese. Turkey Turkey suspended all trade and defense ties with Israel, following the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador over its refusal to apologize for the 2010 raid on the Turkish-flagged ship, Mavi Marmara of peace activists heading for Gaza, in which nine Turks were killed. The nine pro-Palestinian activists who died were on board, when it was intercepted and attacked by the Israeli military in international waters as it sailed towards Gaza’s coast on 31 May 2010.
Anakara was irked by a UN report, possibly guided by CIA, that concluded that Israel used “excessive force” in its raid but justified the terror attack saying the Zionist naval blockade was legal. Turkey has vowed to take the case to the International Court of Justice.
After downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel, Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador on 2 September and also suspended military co-operation with Israel last week. Erdogan said Turkey was “totally suspending” defense ties with Israel” Trade ties, military ties, regarding defense industry ties, we are completely suspending them,” he told reporters in Ankara. “This process will be followed by different measures.”
Based in The Hague, the pro-US ICJ is a permanent UN court set up to rule on state-to-state disputes. In reality, experts say it is unlikely Turkey will be able to take Israel to the ICJ since, under court rules, Israel would need to give its consent for the action to be heard.
The Turkish Air Force will identify Israeli objectives as hostile. This will be made possible by the new “friendly – hostile” identification system with which Turkish F-16 jet fighters are being equipped. The source said that fire will be opened at Israeli objectives. Relations plummeted still further when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip threatened to send warships to escort any Turkish vessels trying to reach Hamas-ruled Gaza.
Erdogan wanted to visit Gaza in the coming days to increase “international attention” on Israel’s siege of the strip. He said he doesn’t think Hamas is a terrorist group. Erdogan’s visit is sure to impress upon Palestinian Fatah President Mahmoud Abbas, although the AKP would not necessarily like see ruling the Palestinian state the UN is about to recognize.
Israel warned that a visit by Erdoğan to Gaza would be a diplomatic mistake. Turkey’s prime minister has said Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year was “cause for war” but that his country showed “patience” and refrained from taking any action. The Israeli terror attack that killed nine activists occurred in international waters and was therefore “unlawful.” The UN report accused Israel of using “excessive and unreasonable” force on the peace activists.
III
Under US mediation, the two countries have had substantial military co-operation during the past two decades, but that has decreased in recent years. USA has expressed concern over the row between the two countries, urging them to “de-escalate” their dispute. Now Washington is trying its diplomatic sources to rebuild the Israeli terror ties with Turkey.
The Turkish anger could be gauged by the public mood. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Expressing public anger said the former Ottoman Empire does not need United States’ mediation to solve a long-lasting crisis with Israel over a deadly 2010 flotilla raid. He added that the Americans are probably the people who best understand Turkey’s position on this issue. It is expected that Israeli-Turkish relations might be on the agenda among other issues of a meeting between Turkish Prime Minister and US President B.Obama next week on the sidelines of the UN general assembly.
Ankara faced difficulties in making arrangements for Erdoğan’s visit to Egypt to include a possible additional leg to Gaza, which has been under an Israeli blockade for years. Erdoğan’s entry to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing would put Egypt in a delicate position, since that would mean violating existing agreements between Israel and Egypt. The move was seen by anti-Palestine specialists to weaken Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, presumably because a trip to Hamas-controlled Gaza would challenge him as the legitimate representative of the Palestinians. Meanwhile, Nabil Shaath, special envoy of Palestinian President Abbas, held talks with Ahmet Davutoğlu in Ankara . The two discussed The UN recognition of Palestine as a full member and Turkey’s intention to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
Erdoğan said in Cairo: “I recommend a secular constitution for Egypt. Do not fear secularism because it does not mean being an enemy of religion. I hope the new regime in Egypt will be secular. I hope that after these remarks of mine the way the Egyptian people look at secularism will change.” These remarks contrast sharply with the negative image of Erdoğan as a radical Islamist that some in the West, and many in Israel, are trying to make him out to be. His remarks were also a surprise in Turkey, where the pro-Islamic media was visibly reluctant to carry his words.
Normally the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and its natural constituents, who are Islamic in outlook, do not pronounce the term “secularism” and promote this as a precondition for democracy. It was therefore normal that Erdoğan’s remarks should reverberate in Turkey, as well as the Middle East and the wider Islamic world.
His words were so unexpected that the Egyptian Islamic Brotherhood – assumed generally to be close to the AKP and supposedly trying to model itself on the party – was far from happy. “You cannot transfer the experience of other countries to Egypt. The conditions that resulted in a secular state in Turkey are different from the conditions in Egypt.
Some Observations
The populations of Turkey and Egypt make up half of the entire Middle East, but they represent moderation, in terms of political and religious moderation and try to establish Islamic democracies by bypassing Western brands, albeit slowly, and pressured by the Western anti-Islamic terrocracies.
Egypt considers Erdoğan’s visit to Cairo a historic one, as it comes at a moment when the Arab world is going through a major change. Slamming Israel for its reluctance to end its military occupation of Palestinian territories, the Egyptian ambassador said it would be more rational for all countries to question the legality of the occupation before asking about the legality of Israel’s actions, in an indirect reference to Turkey’s efforts to question the naval blockade on Gaza Strip.
Many Egyptians think they need to preserve the traditional relations with Turkey and all the countries that want to help the Arab world and take advantage of them to create a stronger political front to enhance the Arab states’ position against Israel.
An impression has been created in the media that as a strong contender for a veto position on the notorious UNSC, whivch has destablized many sovereign Muslim nations, Turkey seems to be playing a big role according to US plan for Mideast. Erdogan has said he will not attempt to carry out his plan to travel to Gaza from Egypt during this trip, but hopes that he can travel there in the near future. Erdogan’s visit to Egypt comes amid worsening Turkish relations with Israel since Israeli forces boarded an aid ship in May last year as it was heading for Gaza. USA and UK, leaders of NATO of which Turkey is a leading member, suggest that Islamic strong man should temper his anti-Israeli rhetoric to avoid upsetting his hosts as the Egyptian government is trying to calm public anger towards Israel, following an attack on its embassy in Cairo.
A NATO member Turkey is pursuing its legitimate EU membership for which USA overtly supports Istanbul. Turkey’s elevation to fight for the cause of Palestinians has earned a big name and niche from entire Islamic world, upsetting all calculations of Zionist regime. Known close links of USA with Turkey, Tel-Aviv now feels outframed and isolated. Israeli attack on Egyptians has further damaged its standing in Mideast and brought Turkey and Egypt together and stronger.
Erdoğan paid an official visit to Egypt on Sept. 12-13. In Cairo, Erdogan reiterated that Islam and democracy are quite compatible and not contradictory. A Muslim can run a state very successfully. Erdogan’s popularity in the Arab world has stemmed mainly from his strong confrontations with Israel, at a time when regional leaders were seen by their people as impotent when it comes to the Jewish state and the West. Many Egyptians drew comparisons with the late Gamal Abdel-Nasser, whose pan-Arabism and defiance of foreign powers made him a regional hero.
Judging by media reports there are also Egyptians who are happy about Erdoğan’s remarks about “democracy”, and western nuts it was good that these should have forced the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt to reveal its position on an issue of crucial importance, not just for Egypt but also the new Middle East. Given the increasing threat of foolish sectarian and religious confrontation in the region, led by Saudi Arabia, it appears AKP officials would help them as the only way out of this dangerous situation is through secularism. This is a very tall order for the Middle East and North Africa, of course, but Erdoğan’s advice on this score is still one of the best he could have given at this point in time. But corruption and bogus elections with money-muscle pwoer alone would not define the democracy course anywhere , not excluding oil rich Mideast.
Western terrocracies try to claim that Christianity is democracy and Islam is terrorism. This explains why Americans keep harboring on bogus democracy and want to export it to oil rich Mideast. These nuts think that by using the word “Mullah” which in fact means a believer, they could insult Muslims and defame Islam.
In trying to keep is terror hold over the region with US support, Israel plays Iran against Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.In fact, both USA and Israel have projected Iran as a threat to Islamic world more than Israel and obstructed to Tehran’s sincere efforts to secure its territories and people. However Turkey and Egypt have ignored their joint gimmicks and are forging better ties with Iran. Under threat from Israel and USA, Tehran is now buying from Russia S-300 antiaircraft missiles in order to deter an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear weapons program.Greece, which diplomatically facilitated the second flotilla’s deep-sixing, is fast replacing Turkey as Israel’s favorite regional military partner.
Obviously, Western interest in Mideast is oil and not true democracy because corporate sector and their fascist media cannot be the base of democracy!
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د. عبد راف
Terrorism is caused by anti-Islamic forces. Fake democracies like USA and India have zero-tolerance to any criticism of their anti-Muslim and other aggressive practices. Anti-Muslimism and anti-Islamism are more dangerous than “terrorism” Anti-Islamic forces & terrorists are using criminal elements for terrorizing the world and they in disguise are harming genuine interests of ordinary Muslims.
Dr. Abdul Ruff, Specialist on State Terrorism;Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Independent Analyst;Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements(Palestine,Kashmir, Iraq, Afgha
Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal Blog 