Turkish FM to visit Lebanon
Talks to focus on NATO summit, Arab reforms

By Khalil Fleihan
Special to The Daily Star
Friday, July 02, 2004

BEIRUT: Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul starts an official visit to Lebanon on Friday during which he is
due to have political and economic talks with local officials.

Gul is also due to brief Lebanese leaders on the NATO summit held in
Istanbul earlier this week and the decisions made there that could
affect Arab states. Talks are also expected to focus on reforms Arab
states are to undertake, and the Istanbul initiative for security
cooperation with several Arab states.

An informed source said Gul’s visit is the first by a Turkish foreign
minister to Lebanon since 1983. He will be accompanied by two Turkish
MPs and a 45 member delegation, and is to arrive in Beirut in the
afternoon.

Lebanon supports a Turkish role in restoring order to Iraq and
rebuilding the country.

A source at the Foreign Ministry said Gul’s talks here would reflect
the extent of rapprochement between Turkey and Lebanon, specifically
with regard to Iraq and Palestine.

The rapprochement between the two countries was evident in talks
Foreign Minister Jean Obeid and Premier Rafik Hariri had in Turkey
during visits earlier this year, specifically regarding the issues of
the greater Middle East and Iraq and Palestine.

The source said Gul’s visit fell within the framework of Turkey’s
rapprochement with the Arabs, which began when Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan took office last year.

Erdogan has since declined several times to meet with his Israeli
counterpart, Ariel Sharon, due to the political disagreement between
the two countries.

The source said Turkey regards Lebanese diplomacy as efficient and
flexible. Turkey also wants to benefit from the Lebanese experience
of coexistence between various religious communities.

“Turkey says the Lebanese experience was an example to be followed, as
it is in line with international expectations for this part of the
world,” the source said, adding that a forum on Harmony Among
Civilizations will be held in Istanbul in October to pave the way for
dialogue between Europe and Islam.

This forum is on the agenda of the talks between Gul and Obeid in
Beirut.

Turkey has been hosting such forums since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
to offset international tension and safeguard the existing good
relations between Europe and Islam.

The source said Turkey is keeping a close eye on political
developments in Iraq because they have a deep impact on Turkish
interests, especially regarding Iraqi Turkmen and Kurdish minorities.

Turkey wants to play an important part in the new, US-backed strategy
for the region, specifically with regard to the reforms sought by the
US from Arab and Islamic regimes.

Moreover, Turkey supports Lebanon’s claims regarding the “full
implementation of UN Resolution 425.” Turkey also supports Lebanon’s
call on Israel to withdraw from the Shebaa Farms.

But Turkey has reservations over the movements of the Secret Armenian
Army in Lebanon.