Saudi king's visit may play 'catalyst' role for Turkey
Analysts suggest that King Salman's visit to Turkey amid OIC summit could facilitate better ties with Egypt
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud's official visit to Ankara before an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit hosted by Turkey is expected to take positive relations between the two countries to an important level.
The OIC summit is to be held in Istanbul on April 14 and 15 says the Turkish president's office.
PHOTO GALLERY - President Erdogan welcomes Saudi King Salman
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will host the event.
The chair of the Middle East and African Researchers' Association, Prof. Zekeriya Kursun – speaking to Anadolu Agency – attached significance to the monarch’s visit to Turkey before the summit.
Suggesting King Salman's official visit to Turkey after Egypt could be evaluated as Saudi Arabia’s ability to mediate between Ankara and Cairo, Kursun said: "Both Turkey and Egypt have a grasp of the importance of the co-operation of the two states. I think that Saudi Arabia can play a catalyst role."
Sakarya University Middle East Institute director Prof. Kemal Inat said that Turkey did not want to change its policy's principal axis while fixing relations with Egypt.
"I think that Turkey's relations with Egypt are not possible to be fixed if there is not any change about ousted president Mohamed Morsi's imprisonment and death sentence status and if the Muslim Brotherhood is not given an opportunity to do politics", he said.
Institute of Strategic Thinking Chairman, Prof. Birol Akgun stated that even though the two countries are run by different regimes, they maintained good relations in economic and politics since the date of their respective foundations.
Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) General Coordinator deputy Muhittin Ataman said: "We know that there are serious problems between Turkey and Egypt. These should be softened" adding that the Saudi king thinks that relations between Turkey and Egypt can improve with the occasion of the OIC summit.
Uludag University's International Relations department head, Prof. Tayyar Ari stated that Iran in the region is one of the reasons for the development of relations between the countries in recent terms.
Ties between Cairo and Ankara have witnessed tensions since the military coup against Morsi.
Relations further soured when on Nov. 24, 2013 when Egypt announced considering the Turkish envoy an “unwanted person” and reduced its level of diplomatic relations with Ankara.
Ankara responded with similar measures.
Turkey has announced a noninterference policy in Egyptian affairs and has stressed its support for democracy and the freedom of the Egyptian people.
Turkey has also repeatedly stood against military coups because they end democratic paths, as has happened after the 2013 coup against Morsi.
