BY TAHA AKYOL
MILLIYET- Algeria is your second homeland, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz Balkhadem told our Foreign Minister Abdullal Gul at a banquet in Gul’s honor. As both countries support each other on many significant issues, there are no problems between us. Furthermore, both foreign ministers stressed that their countries attach the highest importance to improving relations with the European Union. Stating that his country shares Turkey’s happiness at finally getting a date from the EU to start its membership talks, Balkhadem said that his country had also signed a partnership agreement with Brussels.
The more Turkey improves its relations with the West, the stronger its position grows in the Islamic world and Eurasia. The term ‘homeland’ implies not only current relations but also a common history between the two countries. The Ottoman Empire played a significant role in the formation of Algeria’s national identity.
Gul’s warm, transparent disposition allows him to establish friendly and sincere relations with other diplomats. Algerians welcomed him as if he were a president. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika hosted Gul for two hours and held a banquet in his honor. There is a huge Ottoman palace and mosque in Algeria, and Bouteflika asked Turkey to restore them. Gul said that Turkey would restore the two while preserving their Ottoman character.
Furthermore, Algeria is planning to invest $50 billion in infrastructure in the coming five years. ‘If Turkey gets 10% [of these contracts], this would total $5 billion,’ said Gul. Although Chinese businessmen currently dominate the Algerian infrastructure market, Gul made sure during his visit that Turkish construction firms would be given priority for new investments.
And here are some impressions from the Algerian streets… It’s a poor country. Its entrepreneurial middle class and market economy are still nascent. There is no headscarf ban in this country, neither in the private sphere nor in the public. There are many women wearing headscarves on the streets, and many too who are not. It’s a moderate, willing-to-develop and friendly country…