ISTANBUL: Turkey’s prime minister urged Arab nations Thursday to unite and step up efforts to end the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and resolve the Middle East conflict.
He made the appeal to officials from 21 Arab countries, who convened for cooperation talks in Istanbul in the wake of an Israeli raid on Gaza-bound aid ships that claimed the lives of nine Turks and plunged ties between Turkey and Israel, once close allies, into deep crisis.
"Peace and stability will not come to the region as long as the blockade of Gaza persists," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told the third meeting of the Turkey-Arab Forum.
"Painful experience has made it clear that no (regional) country will fully achieve prosperity and security as long as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains unresolved," he said.
"We expect Arab countries to do more for the peaceful solution of the problem… It’s time to strengthen the alliances rather than to multiply the disagreements," he said.
Erdogan’s vehement criticism of Israel since its devastating war on Gaza last year and the latest crisis over the ship raid have boosted Turkey’s popularity among Arab nations.
But critics at home have slammed Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted government for championing the Gaza cause even more fervently than Arab heavyweights, warning of damage to Turkey’s links with the West.
Many are concerned that NATO’s sole mainly Muslim member is sliding away from the West, pointing also at its improving ties with Iran, underscored Wednesday when Turkey voted against fresh sanctions against the Islamic republic at the UN Security Council.
Brushing aside the charges, Erdogan insisted his government was advocating justice and peace in the region, pointing at Israel’s storming of the aid flotilla in international waters and its policies towards the Palestinians.
"Are we going to stay mum in the face of the tragedy in Palestine, the massacres, the inhumane practices? Wouldn’t that amount to an approval of state terror? Wouldn’t that amount to turning a blind eye to lawlessness?" he said.
"For years, the international community and international organizations turned a blind eye to those inhuman practices and even tacitly encouraged them… This must not go on.
"Do not forget that… oppression will continue if we defend the rights of the supremes and not the supremacy of law," he said.
The Turkish-Arab forum was set up in 2006 as Erdogan’s government, seeking a stronger role in the Middle East, moved to improve ties with the Arab world, often neglected amid Turkey’s traditionally pro-Western orientation.
Thursday’s meeting, scheduled before last week’s bloodshed on the aid ships, brought together Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and representatives of 21 Arab nations, among them 14 foreign ministers, including those of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Libya and the Palestinians, officials said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mussa also attended the gathering.
Economic cooperation talks were held simultaneously, with the participation of officials and business people from Turkey and Arab countries.
Turkey has been keen to lure Arab investment, especially from the Gulf countries.
