Mr. Chairman,

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and gentlemen,

At the outset, please allow me to convey the greetings of H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, who regrets not being able to participate in this conference. As you might know, H.E. Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, is currently on an official visit to Turkey. During this visit both ministers will have the chance to review our bilateral relations and regional developments.

I would like to thank our host, Excellency Mohammed Jassem Al Sager for his warm hospitality and excellent organization.

Dear Participants,

The history of Arab-Turkish relations is that of two brotherly people, bound together by close cultural, social, religious and historical ties. For centuries, our people lived side by side, shared a common destiny and contributed extensively to the world civilization, in particular our common civilization, the civilization of Islam.

We have together made important strides to develop and diversify our relations, both on bilateral and multilateral levels, especially during the last decade. This new period can be seen as a revival of Turkish-Arab brotherhood and friendship. It has invalidated the attempts of the outside world to create artificial fault lines among our nations and communities. Such artificial barriers have been erased by the growing solidarity between Turkey and Arab countries, as well as other members of the Muslim world.

On the bilateral level, frequent mutual high-level visits have enabled us to deepen our relations across all fields. But we should do more to expand our relations. This momentum has to be maintained. The “High Level Strategic Cooperation Councils” and “Joint Economic Commissions” constitute valuable mechanisms to this end.

Our visa liberalization policy towards the region has brought our people closer and removed barriers restricting business. The latest figures show that our bilateral trade volume with Arab countries increased from 8 billion Dollars in 2002, to nearly 50 billion Dollars by the end of 2012. The number of tourists from Arab countries who visited Turkey was around 400.000 in 2002. This figure has increased five times within the decade and reached the level of 2 million visitors in 2012.

Our peoples have become more aware of the cultural affinities thanks to the popularity of Turkish cultural products. Turkish soap operas are a case in point. They have found a considerable viewership in the Arab world. It has been reported that 85 million people tuned in to watch one episode of a Turkish soap opera from Morocco to Kuwait.

Such positive developments could be measured in empirical terms as well. For example a recent report by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), a well known think-thank indicates the positive image of Turkey in the Arab cultural and social discourse. The debate of Turkey in the Arab world has become more nuanced for the better in the last couple of years.

In sum, we have revived the bond of brotherhood and partnership between Turkey and Arab countries. We have deepened our relations and diversified our areas of cooperation throughout the last decade. However, we should strive for even higher levels in bilateral relations. Our government has the political will to bring about a new age of partnership between the Arab world and Turkey; and it is a great pleasure for us to see that a similar political will exists in most of the Arab governments as well.

The Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum, established in 2007, is instrumental in improving the political, security, economic, cultural and social dimensions of our relations. Meetings between our ministries are held regularly as part of the Forum activities. The fifth and last meeting was held in Istanbul on December 1, 2012. The next meeting will be held in Khartoum, in 2013.

In addition to these meetings, technical workshops are organized with a view to enhance social, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and the Arab countries. The “Action Plan” that was adopted during the fourth meeting of Foreign Ministers in Morocco in 2011 will certainly boost our bilateral cooperation in these fields.

We should mobilize the vast potential between Turkey and the GCC countries in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, construction, small and medium size enterprises, energy, banking and finance. The Turkey-GCC High Level Strategic Dialogue Mechanism could be instrumental in this regard. It is the first mechanism the GCC has established with a third country for consultations on a regular basis. We highly value our dialogue with the GCC and wish to upgrade it to strategic partnership. We believe that closer cooperation between Turkey and the GCC will have positive and constructive implications for the regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Other venues for cooperation such as the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum or the Turkish-Arab Media Forum also deserve our attention. They are instrumental in bringing together major opinion makers, from business leaders to leading journalists, who in return make a tremendous impact in the formation of mutual positive perceptions in Turkey and the Arab world. We should seek the ways of utilizing these venues in a more effective manner.

Our close cooperation at the UN and other international organizations is of crucial importance. These will enable us to further influence and shape policies in world affairs. These relations will also bolster our ability to solve the issues of common concern in line with our demands and expectations. Therefore, intensification of our efforts to form common positions at the UN and other international organizations to the extent possible will serve in our common interests.

Dear participants,

Now, I would like to touch upon briefly the great historic transformation, both in regional and international level. I believe that no country can ignore this fundamental shift. In the popular movements that took place in some of the Arab countries, peoples have demanded dignity, freedom, honorable work and a say in their own future. Their demands are irrefutable for every man and woman in the world. This social dynamism eventually brought about new governments and parliaments to the countries in the Arab world.

In the West, unfortunately some people question the compatibility of Islam and democracy. Since they fail to understand main characteristics of our civilization, it is not easy for them to understand the political change that is taking place in our region.

The path of change is a challenging one and has no magical healing power for the problems of decades. However, the internal dynamics of each country are different. The pace of change and progress may therefore vary, since each country has its own way and tradition that needs to be respected. I believe that for a more stable and a more prosperous future, every effort should be exerted for the success of the long reform path. Such an endeavor certainly deserves support and encouragement. I believe that sustainable security and development is only possible through meeting the legitimate aspirations of the people.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) plays a significant role in our efforts for contributing to the economic development of the transition countries. TIKA recently inaugurated new coordination offices in Tunis, Cairo and Sana’a. Turkey’s technical assistance to the transition countries reached nearly 60 million Dollars.

We are cognizant of the fact that each country in the region has its own characteristics and a single model cannot constitute a template. In that context, let me emphasize that Turkey does not aspire to be a role model to its neighborhood.

However, Turkey is always ready to share her own experience of democracy and her historical, institutional and technical accumulation with the other countries of the region. Yet, Turkey, as a country with a predominantly Muslim population, constitutes an altering example that democracy, modernity and Islam are compatible. In this regard, Turkey is always ready to share her own experience of democracy and her historical and institutional knowledge with the region.

Ladies and Gentleman,

Finding a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question has long been an imperative for stability, security and a durable peace in the Middle East, since it lies at the very heart of all issues in our region. In the new regional context, shaped by the Arab transformation, reaching a settlement has become more urgent than ever.

With these considerations, we have for decades tried our utmost for the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Arab Peace Plan that we all support stands testimony to this.

We strongly condemn Israel for its continued expansion of illegal settlements. Time, and again Israel has proven that it fails to read the change happening not only around it, but also in the way its actions are perceived by the international community. This is why it was at a loss after Palestine’s recognition as a non- member observer state by the UN General Assembly on 29 November 2012.

As the Israelis block the prospect of a peaceful future in the Middle East based on two state vision, we cannot leave the fate of Palestinians in their hands. The Palestinians must have their long overdue statehood. In this respect, we must support our Palestinian brothers at every fora in their quest for taking their legitimate place in the community of independent States, as we did in New York for UN “non-member observer state” status. Our support for our Palestinian brothers and sisters will not waiver, and we will see their flag raised at the UN as a full member state.

We will also continue to be vocal on the illegal and inhumane blockade imposed by Israel over the Gaza Strip. We cannot turn a blind eye to such a tragedy. Israel has been suffocating the people of Gaza for years. This is unacceptable. The blockade must be lifted. There can be no permanent peace and stability in the Middle East unless there is a return to normal daily life in Gaza.

Reconciliation among our Palestinian brothers has now gained utmost importance. We welcome the recent initiatives reached by the parties to implement the Cairo and Doha Agreements as well as a timetable toward this end. We sincerely hope that these efforts will bear fruit with the timely establishment of a strong unity government in Palestine.

Dear Colleagues,

As the crisis in Syria is nearing its second year, the violence continues and each day, more innocent lives in Syria become victims to the ever-increasing brutality of the regime.

The monthly average of the death toll surpassed 5 thousand, bringing the total number of casualties to more than 60 thousand. 4 million people inside Syria are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and around 2,5 million are internally displaced. This is not just statistics. Each number means a human life.

The humanitarian aspect of the crisis is deteriorating further. We now accommodate 170 thousand Syrians in the camps along our border and an additional 80 thousand Syrians are living in Turkish cities. In other words, we are hosting 250 thousand Syrians in our country.

Our doors will remain open to our Syrian brothers and sisters. However the contribution of the international community still stands far below our expectations. In this context, I would like to express our gratitude to the Arab countries for their efforts to assist the Syria’s neighbors.

We are also deeply concerned by the growing tensions within Syrian society, which risks unbridgeable divides along ethnic and religious fault lines. The Regime does not hesitate to resort to any means with a view towards exploiting the differences among communities and injecting fears against each other.

However, the Regime will be proven wrong. Syrian society will stick together as they did throughout centuries in the face of similar challenges, no matter how hard the regime tries to undermine their solidarity.

Since the end of the Regime is near and inevitable, we should focus on the transition. The Syrian National Coalition, as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people, has made considerable progress in presenting itself as a credible alternative to the Assad Regime. It is now time for us to fulfill our obligations by supporting and empowering the opposition.

Dear Colleagues,

Our shared values dictate us to act responsibly and consciously in view of the situation in Syria and to show solidarity with the Syrian people in their just struggle for liberty and democracy.

We have to work even harder to ease their sufferings and to enable them for a brighter future. We wish to see a strong Syria where respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms prevail and all citizens are equal before the law regardless of their ethnic origins or religious beliefs, in unity and integrity.

This is not an easy task and it will not happen overnight. However, in the end, the heroic struggle of the Syrian people will bring democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights to Syria. It will go into the annals of history as a reminder of what people can achieve against brutal oppression.

Distinguished participants,

Its common geography and long-shared history dictate Turkey to follow an active policy in the face of developments in the region. Turkey simply seeks the establishment and enhancement of security, peace, and stability in the region, based on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of countries. Our goal is working towards the creation of a region of peace, stability, security, and prosperity.

We try to establish and preserve good relations with all our neighboring nations and communities, regardless of their religious, sectarian and ethnic background. We reject any kind of ethnic or sectarian divisions and enjoy contacts with every segment of Arab society.

Before concluding my remarks, I would like to reiterate our commitment to develop and deepen relations with our Arab brothers, and to continue our efforts towards peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Thank you.