This is a serious diplomatic engagement against the backdrop of ever-increasing regional cooperation: on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held exhaustive telephone conversations with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on critical issues affecting stability in the Middle East, along with bilateral relations.
During their meeting, President Erdoğan underlined his vision for the future of Syria, emphasizing the need to establish a country where all different ethnic and religious groups would live in harmony with one another. Speaking characteristically candidly, Erdoğan insisted that national unity remained key in the effort to have Syria rebuilt and firm.
The head of state of Turkey was quite categorical: the PKK/YPG would not be that factor representative of the Kurdish interest in this vastness. In other words, the outstanding point here indicates fears about the South Border security of Türkiye and the drawing of a demarcation line separating Kurdish civilians from militants.
“We cannot and will not accept any scenario where terrorist organizations claim to speak for the Kurdish people,” a senior Turkish diplomatic source elaborated, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Our position remains clear – the future of Syria must be determined by its citizens, not by armed groups.”
The conversation also concerned the necessity to counter ISIL using regional turbulence, both leaders agreed that the threat of the terrorist organization remains high. Especially, about the measures required to prevent Israel’s actions from jeopardizing new peace processes in Syria, Erdoğan spoke in detail.
Palestinian issue remained a focal point of their discussion on which President Erdoğan once again underlined that Türkiye remains a supporter of the diplomatic solution of the ongoing conflict. “Turkey will continue its humanitarian diplomacy until peace returns,” Turkish Communications Directorate said in a statement after the call.
Talks between these important regional actors are however welcome at this time as the Middle East faces several issues that need response from the international community. The UAE has change its focused trying to become a mediator in the region sponsored by its head Mohammed bin Zayed while Türkiye still aims to perform as the key diplomatic link between the West and the Eastern world promoted by Erdogan.
Scholars in political science pay special attention to such work as to the evidence of enhancing cooperation between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Such discussions are described as not only being representative of normal diplomatic cooperation, says Dr. Mehmet Yilmaz, Middle East Institute Istanbul University. ‘Some conflicting partners show that both parties have identical knowledge about the fact that stability in the region necessitates continuous communication and cooperation between the leading states.’
However, the official readout did not provide specific details of the discussions that touched on avenues for advanced bilateral cooperation. For these reasons in recent years, the engagement between the two countries at the economic and diplomatic level has been intensified for what has been called their cooperative efforts on regional security and development initiatives. Such events and encounters are put into more relevance since the Middle Eastern states are witnessing these days more and more difficult trials. The political exchanges signify much more as shaping the course along which peace efforts and stability initiatives may progress across this region. The communication links have become strong enough through such appeals as both have shown willingness to maintain, which signifies a solid foundation for confronting mutual issues and towards common interest maneuvers in a complex political scenario.
