ANKARA– King Salman after concluding talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday to attend the 13th Islamic Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The king was welcomed by Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin, Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz and a number of other top officials.
“In addition to bilateral relations, regional developments starting with Syria have been discussed,” the president Erdogan office said regarding the king’s tete-a-tete meetings with Erdogan and both delegations led by heads of states.
The Turkish president’s office said the Saudi King’s visit brought both countries even closer and further secured their ties which are already robust throughout all fields.
King Salman said in a speech during the session of talks held at the presidential palace in Ankara that “The reality today requires us to work together to create a suitable environment that will allow the peoples of the countries in the region to achieve their security, stability and development related aspirations”. He explained that his talks with President Erdogan will lead to results that “consolidate our strategic relationship which will open broad horizons to strengthen our political, economic, trade, military and security ties”.
King Salman emphasised that the Islamic world has witnessed collective and strategic action through the formation of alliances that ensure coordination and the unification of efforts. This includes the Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism. He added that the message imported by “North Thunder”, which is considered to be the largest military exercise in the region, is a message to anyone who tries to violate the security and stability of these countries.
Both leaders agreed to maintain their current consultation system concerning regional affairs, and exchanged views on the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit agenda to be held in Istanbul on Thursday and Friday.
King Salman wrapped up his official visit in Ankara on Wednesday, he will attend the OIC leaders’ summit in Istanbul during which Turkey will take over the presidency.
King Salman smiles at an officer saluting him as President Erdogan bids the Saudi monarch farewell as he leaves the presidential palace in Ankara
SECURITY, TERROR MATTERS DISCUSSED
The Turkish president and Saudi King also tackled security issues during their talks, focusing on combating terrorism.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey are staunch supporters of Syria’s opposition forces and forged closer military and security ties in recent years.
In addition, both have aligned themselves against Iran in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon.
“Turkey and Saudi Arabia don’t like what’s happening in Iraq, Syria and Yemen,” pointed out Ilnur Cevik, The Turkish president’s advisor.
The Turkish army participated in military drills in Saudi Arabia while Saudi jets took part in air force exercises in central Turkey.
Turkey said it will join the Saudi-led military coalition against terrorist groups earlier this year.
For the first time ever, Riyadh deployed warplanes in Incirlik Air Base in the Turkish province of Adana near the Syrian border as part of the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS).
PERSONAL TIES BETWEEN LEADERS
According to Erdogan’s advisor, Cevik, bilateral relations warmed up since Salman was crowned King in January 2015.
“The king proved to be a true friend of Turkey’s after boosting ties with Ankara and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he respects,” he explained.
Erdogan greeted the King at the airport on Monday, a day before Salman was scheduled to start his official visit, and escorted him to his hotel.
On the King’s first high-profile day during his visit to Turkey, President Erdogan welcomed Salman with an official ceremony at Ankara’s presidential palace on Tuesday.
The King was also awarded the Order of the State of the Republic of Turkey, the highest state recognition Turkey awards to foreign nationals, due to the Saudi King’s efforts to promote friendly ties with Turkey.
“My precious friend, my dear brother, since acceding to the throne in Saudi Arabia, you have contributed substantially towards developing friendly relations between our countries,” Erdogan said during the ceremony.
King Salman expressed his gratitude for the medal and the appreciation of friendly ties.
TURKEY-EGYPT ROW
The King, who was in Egypt before visiting Turkey, has reportedly attempted to broker a deal between Ankara and Cairo.
“Riyadh’s main goal is to mend ties between Turkey and Egypt,” Ceyda Karan, an expert on Turkish foreign policy, said.
She emphasized that Saudi Arabia has attempted to establish a Sunni bloc extending from North Africa to Pakistan against Iran.
He said the Saudi King most likely delivered a message to the Turkish leadership from President Sisi.
MORE ECONOMIC INTERACTION
During Ankara’s meetings, both leaders pledged to increase business, investment and trade ties between both countries.
The trade volume between both countries was 5.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2012 and dropped to 5.6 billion dollars in 2015.
According to the latest available trade data from Turkey’s government, the volume has slightly increased by 2.3 percent during the January-February period compared with the same period the previous year.
Turkey received 2 billion dollars in investments from Saudi Arabia and wants to increase that to 10 billion dollars.
Acet emphasized that trade relations between both countries will soon resume.
“A decision was taken to establish a high-level strategic council during Erdogan’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia,” he recalled, adding that political and economic ties will develop further through intergovernmental conferences.
Turkey’s Trade and Customs Minister, Bulent Tufenkci, proposed the establishment of trade centers to promote the sale of goods between both countries during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Tawfiq bin Fevzan Al-Rabia.
Trade centers, which differ from free trade zones, would permit entry of Turkish products into the Middle East and Gulf via Saudi Arabia and allow Saudi goods to enter Europe via Turkey.
Source: News Agencies, April 13