Mosamania
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Saudi Arabias new generation visits Ankara
Saudi Arabian Prince Abdul-aziz bin Talal bin Abdul-aziz Al Saud made an official visit to Ankara on Monday. This isnt the first time that Ankara has hosted a Saudi prince. This trip was particularly significant as, unlike previous visits, its purpose was not a routine official engagement or vacation. Moreover, he visited Ankara, not Istanbul.
Additionally, what makes Prince Abdul-aziz bin Talal distinctive among the 4500 princes and princesses residing in Saudi Arabia is his intellectual personality, his willingness to discuss political issues, his love for Turkey and his membership of the Talal family, the richest family in the Arab world. To put this into perspective, his brother Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal purchased 20 percent of Twitter for $300 million in November. During Prince Abdul-azizs visit, about which the Foreign Ministry of Turkey and the Saudi Arabian Embassy werent officially informed, the Prince came together with Turkish Think Tanks and made a sincere speech at a Bilkent Universitys Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) joint meeting.
He didnt abstain from having interviews with the media, appearing on TV and answering any kind of question. He also attended a series of meetings in order to improve relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. As well as meeting with Erşat Hürmüzlü, presidential advisor on the Middle East and İbrahim Kalın, chief advisor to the prime minister, the Saudi prince also saw the vice president of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ömer Çelik and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek. He was also treated to Ankara kekliği (a dish made with grouse raised in Ankara) and Seljukian Sorbet, both traditional Ottoman dishes, in a magnificent lunch hosted by Melih Gökçek.
During his speech, Prince Abdul-Aziz discussed relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as his countrys perspective on the region, emphasizing that the political relationship between the two nations are very positive. The Prince said there are many opportunities to improve economic relations and economic cooperation and that, in this respect, We have the door but we need to find the keys. Regarding the question of whether or not Turkeys rising importance in the region is considered a threat in Saudi Arabia, he said Everybody in Saudi Arabia is pleased with the growing role of Turkey and if there were to be a superpower in the region, they want this power to be Turkey.
Discussing other issues in the region, he said His country didnt want to have any problem with Iran, but their attitude isnt friendly and Saudi Arabia has received threatening signs from Tehran. Talking about the Arab Spring that emerged in the Middle East, Prince Abdul-aziz explained the stance of his country towards the Arab spring by saying We dont want any chaos and violence in the region. We dont argue that the regimes should collapse. If it is thought that change will take place, we want it to happen in a peaceful way. Although the Prince wasnt a supporter of regime change, he did call for dialogue between both sides in Syria and noted that The government in Syria should also take some steps.
The Arab spring, the name of a change that has emerged in the Arab world, is being undertaken in a different way and in a different time in each of the Arab countries. The Arab spring has progressed in an evolutionary way rather than a revolutionary way in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia. Similarly, the king himself is in support of this evolution in Saudi Arabia. He places a lot of emphasis on the younger generations and women of the country having a happier future. Likewise, more than one million men and women in Saudi Arabia have received a Western education. They can speak a couple of foreign languages as well as their native language. They know some foreign cultures so well that they even know the details of these cultures cuisines.
Of course, a country in which one fourth of the total population, including most managers, bureaucrats and academics have such a high educational level will evolve more easily and less painfully. Hence, Prince Abdul-aziz is the representative and the voice of a new generation of Saudi Arabia. He doesnt refrain from taking the initiative and from speaking, as he loves his country and his king.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia represent two arms of a Middle East weighing scale. Tiny and simple details should not be underestimated within the friendship between two countries. Saudi Arabians shouldnt consider Turkey simply as a holiday destination. Likewise, Turks shouldnt consider Saudi Arabia solely as a place where they go to visit Islams Holy Land and as a customer for construction services. Multi-dimensional and multi-directional cooperation is needed to make both countries more familiar with each other and to alter current perceptions.
Saudi Arabian Prince Abdul-aziz bin Talal bin Abdul-aziz Al Saud made an official visit to Ankara on Monday. This isnt the first time that Ankara has hosted a Saudi prince. This trip was particularly significant as, unlike previous visits, its purpose was not a routine official engagement or vacation. Moreover, he visited Ankara, not Istanbul.
Additionally, what makes Prince Abdul-aziz bin Talal distinctive among the 4500 princes and princesses residing in Saudi Arabia is his intellectual personality, his willingness to discuss political issues, his love for Turkey and his membership of the Talal family, the richest family in the Arab world. To put this into perspective, his brother Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal purchased 20 percent of Twitter for $300 million in November. During Prince Abdul-azizs visit, about which the Foreign Ministry of Turkey and the Saudi Arabian Embassy werent officially informed, the Prince came together with Turkish Think Tanks and made a sincere speech at a Bilkent Universitys Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) joint meeting.
He didnt abstain from having interviews with the media, appearing on TV and answering any kind of question. He also attended a series of meetings in order to improve relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. As well as meeting with Erşat Hürmüzlü, presidential advisor on the Middle East and İbrahim Kalın, chief advisor to the prime minister, the Saudi prince also saw the vice president of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Ömer Çelik and Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gökçek. He was also treated to Ankara kekliği (a dish made with grouse raised in Ankara) and Seljukian Sorbet, both traditional Ottoman dishes, in a magnificent lunch hosted by Melih Gökçek.
During his speech, Prince Abdul-Aziz discussed relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as his countrys perspective on the region, emphasizing that the political relationship between the two nations are very positive. The Prince said there are many opportunities to improve economic relations and economic cooperation and that, in this respect, We have the door but we need to find the keys. Regarding the question of whether or not Turkeys rising importance in the region is considered a threat in Saudi Arabia, he said Everybody in Saudi Arabia is pleased with the growing role of Turkey and if there were to be a superpower in the region, they want this power to be Turkey.
Discussing other issues in the region, he said His country didnt want to have any problem with Iran, but their attitude isnt friendly and Saudi Arabia has received threatening signs from Tehran. Talking about the Arab Spring that emerged in the Middle East, Prince Abdul-aziz explained the stance of his country towards the Arab spring by saying We dont want any chaos and violence in the region. We dont argue that the regimes should collapse. If it is thought that change will take place, we want it to happen in a peaceful way. Although the Prince wasnt a supporter of regime change, he did call for dialogue between both sides in Syria and noted that The government in Syria should also take some steps.
The Arab spring, the name of a change that has emerged in the Arab world, is being undertaken in a different way and in a different time in each of the Arab countries. The Arab spring has progressed in an evolutionary way rather than a revolutionary way in Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia. Similarly, the king himself is in support of this evolution in Saudi Arabia. He places a lot of emphasis on the younger generations and women of the country having a happier future. Likewise, more than one million men and women in Saudi Arabia have received a Western education. They can speak a couple of foreign languages as well as their native language. They know some foreign cultures so well that they even know the details of these cultures cuisines.
Of course, a country in which one fourth of the total population, including most managers, bureaucrats and academics have such a high educational level will evolve more easily and less painfully. Hence, Prince Abdul-aziz is the representative and the voice of a new generation of Saudi Arabia. He doesnt refrain from taking the initiative and from speaking, as he loves his country and his king.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia represent two arms of a Middle East weighing scale. Tiny and simple details should not be underestimated within the friendship between two countries. Saudi Arabians shouldnt consider Turkey simply as a holiday destination. Likewise, Turks shouldnt consider Saudi Arabia solely as a place where they go to visit Islams Holy Land and as a customer for construction services. Multi-dimensional and multi-directional cooperation is needed to make both countries more familiar with each other and to alter current perceptions.
