Saudi Arabia working very closely with Turkey, Ambassador al-Hussaini says

In an exclusive interview with Today’s Zaman, Mohammed Raja al-Hussaini, the Saudi ambassador to Turkey, said Turks and Saudis are pursuing similar policies with the shared goal of achieving peace and stability in Middle East hot spots, including fragile Lebanon, divided Palestine and fractured Iraq. “We both are supporting Palestinians. In Iraq we have the same position: All foreign interference should be stopped. Lebanon is the same. We now have a mechanism to discuss all these issues that matter a great deal to both of us. Leaders call each other at any time to discuss pressing issues,” he emphasized.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia have boosted relations in recent years with frequent high-level visits on both sides after a long hiatus in bilateral exchanges and years of low-key contacts. Al-Hussaini, 62, a career diplomat for 40 years, notes that his arrival in Ankara in 2005 from Canada coincided with bold diplomatic initiatives taken by the Turkish government to open up to neighboring countries and pursue a zero-problems policy. A year later, King Abdullah paid a historic visit to Turkey, in August 2006, the first visit by a Saudi monarch in over 40 years, followed by another visit in 2007. Turkish President Abdullah Gül paid a reciprocal visit to Saudi Arabia in February 2009. The Saudi diplomat shies away from placing blame on either side for the long delay on top-level visits but stresses that it should not have been the case.

“I guess it takes two to dance the tango. I came here at the right time in the sense that the ruling Justice and Development Party [AK Party] had launched a diplomatic initiative to open up to not only neighboring countries, but to many places, from Djibouti to Mali. I thought the conditions and circumstances were right and ripe for me to start working on this relationship. We have common values and historical and cultural relations. There was no reason we should not have close cooperation,” al-Hussaini stated.

He advised his government in Riyadh that Turkey was becoming a more strategically important partner than it had ever been before. He said, “This country has a lot of things we can exchange, whether on the political level or economic trade.” It worked. As political relations picked up speed, economic cooperation flourished as well. While Turkey has been putting a special focus on Gulf countries to tap into rich sovereign investment funds, Saudi Arabian investors have flocked to Turkey to capitalize on investment opportunities in non-oil industries, especially agriculture and commodities.

Commenting on allegations that Turkish foreign policy is shifting its axis from the West to the East, al-Hussaini says he has been irritated by some of the comments made in the West to that effect and finds them ironic. “Those leaders in the West have the best relationship with the Arab world. I do not want to name names, but they are the ones who turn to the East, actually. How come they hold this against Turkey while Turkey has more common values to share with countries in the Middle East? Many Europeans have hugely benefited from ties with the East, and they cannot afford to lose this relationship. Then when Turkey does something like that, they say, ‘How come you are turning to the East?’” al-Hussaini said. He also predicted that one day the EU will offer Turkey full membership when it becomes a very strong country economically. Saudi investors are in fact helping Turkey become an economically powerful country in the region. In telecommunications, Saudi Telecom has a 19.25 percent stake in Turkish fixed line operator Türk Telekom through its Dubai-based subsidiary Oger Telecom, in which it bought a 35 percent stake in 2008. Oger paid $6.55 billion in 2005 to acquire a 55 percent stake in Türk Telekom in a privatization deal. The company is interested in increasing its stake, while the government is looking to sell off an additional 15-20 percent it still owns in Türk Telekom.

The trade volume between the two countries reflects their close cooperation, too. In two years’ time, trade volume increased from $3.3 billion in 2006 to $5.5 billion in 2008, although it took a sharp turn during the economic crisis, as was the case with other countries. But Ambassador al-Hussaini says the numbers are bouncing back to normal levels now that the crisis is over. He lamented, however, strict rules and obstacles to investment in Turkey.

“They [the Turkish government] promised us to relax the rules,” he said, adding that he hoped to see Saudi investors purchasing real estate in Turkey. Currently Saudis cannot own property in Turkey because of the latter’s reciprocity rule, as Saudi Arabia does not allow any foreigner to buy land or property in its country. Al-Hussaini says this is hurting Turkey more than Saudis, as they are allowed to buy properties in the UK, the US and many countries that do not operate on a reciprocal basis.

The Saudi ambassador acknowledged that Turkey and his country have had problems in the past but stressed that this history should be left behind. “You cannot base your present relations on dwelling on the past. I took it upon myself … to establish our relations based on what is going on now,” he said, stressing that both countries need each other. “We feel that both countries are strong economically, strategically and in so many ways. Both countries are heavyweights in the region; the only two Middle Eastern countries who are members of the G-20 group,” he emphasized.

Cooperation on regional issues

Al-Hussaini said Riyadh welcomes Turkish engagement in a number of regional issues, ranging from Lebanon to Palestine and from Iraq to Iran. “Lebanon is very close to us and economically strong thanks to Saudi Arabia,” he noted, stressing that his country pays special attention to maintaining stability in Lebanon. “It is a good example of moderation, coexistence and tolerance,” he added. He lauded Turkey’s constructive role in Lebanon and especially praised the contributions Turkey has made to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 2006 to keep the peace.

Ankara played a very positive role in ending the Lebanese presidential crisis in October 2007 and May 2008. It helped establish a government in the country together with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Turkey endorsed the tripartite summit in Beirut of Saudi King Abdullah, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman earlier this month to diffuse simmering tension in Lebanon.

The same goes for the Turkish engagement in the Palestine issue as well, the ambassador noted. “Since Turkey never takes sides and talks with all the interested parties, it is very constructive to see Turks are engaged on the issue,” he said. Saudis have been financing the Palestinians with billions of dollars over the years, while Egypt has done a lot as well. Al-Hussaini underlined that it is disheartening to see division among the Palestinian people. “It is sad. The Israelis are exploiting this division. It should not have been the case. I do not want to take sides. This is really hurting their cause. It is hurting them first and then me and others who really love and support Palestine,” he explained. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, supported by Turkey, have led efforts to reconcile Hamas and Fatah, albeit unsuccessfully so far.

The Saudi ambassador applauded Turkey’s efforts to lift the blockade in Gaza and described Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s passion on the issue as a “vivid example of his humanitarian concern.” He thinks Erdoğan reflects public opinion and the sentiment of millions of Turks as an advocate of freedom, peace and human rights. “This is a good example of how foreign policy reflects domestic sentiment. The blockade on Gaza was broken thanks to Turkey’s role,” he underlined, stressing that this made Turkey very popular in the Arab and Muslim world.

Al-Hussaini said Iraq is a concern for all neighboring countries in the region. “We are very worried about what is going on in Iraq. Iraq is a very important country. Whatever happens in Iraq reflects on neighboring countries. We always said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and a government representing all factions and communities are very important. The wealth of Iraq should be distributed equally and justly to all people,” he noted.

The Saudi ambassador does not hide his misgivings and concerns when it comes to Iranian engagement in the region, especially in Iraq. “We support any country if they play a positive role to solve the problem in Iraq. But if it takes sides, we are against it. We do not approve of that,” he said, warning that this would allow other countries to interfere as well. “Iraqis themselves are asking for non-interference. Intervention from the outside is not good. Iraq has its own problems. No country can afford taking sides. This is why we need Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as both countries will not take sides. We try to tell them [the Iraqis], you should reconcile for your own sake,” al-Hussaini explained.

As for Iran’s controversial Iranian nuclear program, al-Hussaini declined to comment but said he believed Turkey would never accept a nuclear-armed Iran. He criticized the behavior of the Iranian leadership in the brokering of a nuclear swap deal for low-enriched uranium by Turkey and Brazil. “Even during the swap, the Iranians said they would continue to enrich uranium up to 20 percent,” he said, adding, “That is why the US and Europe are saying Iran is playing with us.”

Coping with terror

The Saudi ambassador dismissed claims that the Saudis are not doing enough to tackle terrorism in their own backyard. “There is no shred of evidence to support such allegations,” he said, adding that the country has been trying to combat terrorism for many years. “We were hit by terror even before Sept. 11. We had some deviant people who carried out terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia,” he noted, stressing there are deviant individuals in every religion who act this way. “We are affected by terrorism. We are doing our best. How could we be lenient toward them?” he stressed.

The Saudi Interior Ministry has developed a rehabilitation program for suspected terrorists, including those repatriated from Guantanamo Bay, to de-radicalize them through re-education, psychological counseling, family support and help in finding a job. Ambassador al-Hussaini said the program was successful with the exception of a few who returned to terror after their release. “Even the US and the EU are asking us how we can exchange ideas and share experiences on this rehabilitation center idea,” he noted.

He also pointed out that his government has reformed its education system. “Now we have a human rights course taught in schools. Even dialogue with others is within the curriculum of our schools. Respecting and accepting others’ human rights is paramount. We have made remarkable changes in our education system. We are taking more bold steps,” he explained.

Al-Hussaini believes the image of Islam as a religion was tarnished after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, even though Islam is a religion of peace. Saudi Arabia has proposed the establishment of a working group with United Nations experts to study the creation of an anti-terrorism center to help countries in the fight against terrorism. The Saudis have also led efforts at the UN to find an accepted definition for terrorist and terrorism.