“A Just Memory For All”, Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, 4 May 2014 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 15 November 2013 Joint Article by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Mr. Zlatko Lagumdzija, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina published in Washington Post on 2 August 2013 Article by H.E.Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Guardian, June 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey published in Middle East Policy Council, March 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 21 March 2013 Article by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey published in Politique Internationale, Autumn 2012 (French) Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Published in Hürriyet Daily News on 1 June 2012 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Published in TEPAV & IPLI Turkey Policy Brief Series, March 2012 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Spectrum, the Biannual Publication of the CTBTO Interview by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in AUC Cairo Review (Egypt) on 12 March 2012 Interview by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazil) on 28 February 2012 Article by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey and Mr. Erkki Tuomioja, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland published in Hürriyet Daily News, 25 February 2012 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in The Australian Newspaper (Australia) on 21 January 2012 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Der Spiegel Newspaper (Germany) on 12 December 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Le Matin Newspaper (Morocco) on 14 November 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Estado de Sao Paulo Newspaper (Brazil) on 9 October 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Kathimerini Newspaper (Greece) on 10 March 2011 Interview by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey to Kathimerini Newspaper (Greece), 6 March 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Süddeutsche Zeitung Newspaper (Germany) on 4 February 2011 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in China Daily Newspaper (China) on 2 November 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Foreign Policy magazine (USA) on 20 May 2010 Article by Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu and Foreign Minister of Brazil Celso Amorim published in New York Times Newspaper on 26 May 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Irish Times Newspaper (Ireland) on 9 March 2010 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Asharqalawsat Newspaper (Saudi Arabia) on 02.01.2010 Article by Foreign Minister of Turkey H.E. Ahmet Davutoglu and Minister Frattini published in Corriere della Sera Newspaper (Italy) on 18.11.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in El Pais Newspaper (Spain) on 16.11.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Nine o’Clock and Adevarul Newspapers (Romania) on 29.10.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in De Volkskrant Newspaper (Netherlands) on 08.10.2009 Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Daily Star Newspaper (Lebanon) on 31 July 2009
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Article by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu published in Asharqalawsat Newspaper (Saudi Arabia) on 02.01.2010


As we enter the last year of the first decade of the 21st Century, I am glad to pay my first official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in my capacity as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey.

Saudi Arabia is one of the key countries in the region, whose political and economic weight is of significance not only in terms of influencing regional developments, but also in tackling issues of global dimensions. As such, we have come to appreciate the constructive role that the Kingdom is playing for the achievement of peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond. We also commend the important reforms that have been carried out in the fields of politics, economy, education, health, social services and culture under the wise and visionary leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

Turkish-Saudi relations are based on a genuine friendship and fraternity between our peoples. We enjoy deep-rooted cultural and historical ties. We share same religion and geography. Both countries have a vested interest in the preservation of peace, security and stability in the region.

I am pleased to note that Turkish-Saudi relations continue to develop in various fields in an accelerated manner. Official contacts and visits at the highest levels on a mutual basis, which have gained frequency over time, played an important role in this trend. Actually, the visit to Turkey of His Majesty King Abdullah in 2006 as the first of its kind in 40 years constituted a milestone in our relations. These relations were given a new momentum by the reciprocal visit of President Abdullah Gül of Turkey to Saudi Arabia in February 2009. Frequent visits at Ministerial level paved the way for enhancement and diversification of our cooperation.

This upward trend in our political relations has also been translated into concrete results in the economic and commercial realm. In two years time, our trade volume has increased from 3.3 billion Dollars in 2006 to 5.5 Dollars in 2008. We wish to raise this figure above 10 billion Dollars in several years. Recent years have also witnessed a remarkable increase in the volume of mutual investments. We hope to give an added impetus to our economic relations after

the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement which we have been negotiating with the Gulf Cooperation Council.

We are happy to observe that contacts between our peoples are also intensifying in parallel with the developments in other fields. The number of Saudi tourists visiting Turkey is steadily increasing, whereas tens of thousands Turkish pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia every year. Moreover, there are approximately one hundred thousand Turkish citizens living and working in Saudi Arabia. They constitute a firm and durable bridge of friendship between the two countries.

We are also keen on strengthening our contacts and cooperation in the cultural field. In this respect, organization of mutual culture weeks and conduct of collective studies on our common cultural heritage are being encouraged.

Convergence and coherence characterize the foreign policies of the two countries towards the region. There is mutual confidence between the two countries that have resulted in increased cooperation and coordination while tackling regional issues. As such, we both try to contribute to regional efforts to help resume peace process in the Arab-Israeli conflict on all its tracks, to promote reconciliation between the Palestinian factions, to address the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza, to promote stability in such countries as Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Yemen and Sudan.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia are also closely cooperating within international fora such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the League of Arab Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Actually, the strategic consultation mechanism that has been established between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council is the first such mechanism that the GCC has ever set up with a nation state.

In conclusion, while conveying my best wishes for the new year to the Saudi people and to our own citizens living in this brotherly country, I would like to express my belief that the times ahead would open up new vistas for our countries to forge a strengthened partnership that would serve the best interests of our two peoples and those of the region as a whole.

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