SABAH- Columnist Sedat Sertoglu comments on the Arab summit which will begin tomorrow in Beirut and Turkey’s relations with the Arab countries. A summary of his column is as follows:
Leaders of the Arab countries will meet tomorrow in Beirut. The main issue to be discussed at the Beirut summit is the Middle East conflict. However there is one more issue which will be discussed during the behind-the-scenes meetings: Saddam Hussein and the future of Iraq.
Leaders are expected to issue a joint declaration at the end of the summit. We will see whether or not recent initiatives launched by Syria and Egypt against Turkey’s interests will be included in this declaration! In other words, we’ll see if the declaration will reflect the two countries’ discontent over Turkey’s military relations with Israel and their view that Turkey must hold consultations with Iraq and Syria over the use of water from the Tigris and Euphrates (Firat and Dicle) rivers.
Believe me if the Arab countries take a stance against Turkey at the Beirut summit it wouldn’t be the first time. What the Arab countries fail to comprehend is that Turkey cannot shape its foreign policy in accordance with their desires.
Which Arab country stood by Turkey when Abdullah Ocalan hid out in Damascus for years? Where were these countries when Turkey was struggling against the PKK?
Whether or not Egyptian President Husni Mubarak or Jordan’s King Abdullah will attend the meeting has been thrown into doubt after recent rumors of assassination plots. Al-Quaeda fighters might try to take advantage of the political chaos in Beirut. After all, only God knows who serves whom in Beirut! Israel recently announced that it would not let Yasser Arafat travel to Beirut if a cease-fire agreement were not signed.
The summit could have been a great opportunity for the Arab countries to solve their problems. However, the current atmosphere clearly shows that their plans will not work! We await for the results with great curiosity!
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION