ISTANBUL
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has stated, Turkey and the Arab world exceeded the "psychological barrier" of the past decade.
"As intellectuals, politicians and businessmen, we rediscover each other," he added.
Delivering a speech at the "Turkey and Arab world: Strategic Meeting Point Istanbul" titled panel discussion at the 8th Turkish-Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul, Davutoglu stressed the economic aspect was really important in relations.
Davutoglu said, statesmen could sit down and advance a vision however if they do not encourage businessmen, the vision would not be sustained and added, "We need a common market. Leaders can meet up in palaces however public meet in markets. Real life happens in markets. Us, as intellectuals, politicians and businessmen, we rediscover each other."
Davutoglu said, since they came into government in 2002, within the scope of Middle East vision, they formed high level political dialogue mechanisms and exceeded the "psychological barrier" between Turkey and the Arab world.
Furthermore, Turkish foreign minister said, they would restart relations with Syria under its new legitimate management which takes the support of its people.
He underlined, Turkey seeks for "maximum economic integration" in the region and noted, the platform of that would be cultural.
Davutoglu highlighted that Istanbul was the city of Arabs from the stability and market culture, multiculturalism and economic integrity point of view and said, "Istanbul is all of ours. Come and work in Istanbul. Istanbul is becoming a global capital."
Moreover, he stressed that Turkey was trying to be careful to act in unison with Arab world and Arab Union over the Syria issue.
He informed participators that there were 2,904 babies who were born in Turkish camps where Syrian citizens take shelter. He added that these babies would form a bridge between Turkey and Syria.
On the other hand, Davutoglu replied a question upon Iran's nuclear energy program and its position in the region, and said, "Turkey follows principal politics. We want a denuclearized region. We do not want Iran to have nuclear weapons however we are absolutely against Israel's nuclear capacity too. None of countries can have a privilege nor exemption."
He suggested, as well as Turkey, Arab world would suffer from the military tension between Iran and Israel too and said, "There is new politics need to be formed, saying, everybody needs a peaceful nuclear energy in our region however nobody has a right to demand for nuclear weapon."
