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Turkey and Jordan — 70 years of meaningful journey

May 20,2017 - Last updated at May 20,2017

An Arab proverb says “there is nothing on this earth to be prized more than true friendship”. I believe, 70 years of fraternity between Turkey and Jordan can best be described with these words.

After having shared a common history for nearly 400 years, the friendly relations between Jordan and Turkey got a boost when the Republic of Turkey was established in 1923.

King Abdullah I visited Turkey and met with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk  in 1937. During this visit and two subsequent others, respectively in 1947 and 1951, King Abdullah I attracted the Turkish people’s attention owing to his intelligence and his acumen in perceiving international matters.

During his visit in January 1947, which came several months after Jordan gained independence, King Abdullah I signed with the then Turkish president İsmet İnönü the “Friendship and Cooperation Treaty”.

This important document is still valid today and stipulates that “there will be an inviolable peace and sincere friendship between the Republic of Turkey and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and between both nations”.

With this treaty, which aimed at consolidating ties, both sides decided to establish diplomatic relations.

On April 28, 1947, the Turkish embassy was opened in Amman.

Today, Turkey and Jordan enjoy an eternal friendship based on common history and shared values.

Political relations are excellent and mutual visits are on track. 

Besides daily direct flights between Amman and İstanbul and Amman and Ankara, the people of Turkey and Jordan enjoy a visa-free travel regime.

Moreover, the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries plays an instrumental role in strengthening the volume of trade, which reached $1 billion in 2014.

Istanbul and Bodrum are among the popular destinations for Jordanian tourists.

The number of Turkish people to visit Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, as well as Wadi Rum and Dead Sea is increasing steadily.

Turkish brands are highly regarded by Jordanian consumers, be they of garments or white goods.

Our tastes are also similar. Turkish cuisine is widely preferred by Jordanians and every Turkish citizen is treated as a “relative” by the generous hospitality of the Jordanian people.

We also share joy and misery. It is no surprise that so far, 70 Turkish soap operas have been broadcasted in Jordan.

Education is an important pillar of our relations. 

The number of Jordanian students studying in Turkish universities exceeds 1,500; in return, more than 100 Turkish youngsters, including those with government scholarship, pursue their higher education in various universities of Jordan.

The number of Jordanian students applying for Turkish scholarships is also growing.

Not all is perfect in the world. Middle East is passing through difficult moments, and as two pivotal countries of Levant, Turkey and Jordan also face similar challenges.

The fight against terrorism and extremism, the war in Syria, hosting great numbers of refugees and blocked routes of trade are some such challenges. 

The two are at the forefront of countries hosting millions of Syrian refugees. They remain among the world’s most generous nations, spending a bigger share of their GDPs on humanitarian aid than many others.

Given these dire circumstances, there is no other option but to consult and cooperate on issues of mutual concern.

We do so and need to do more, also for the prosperity and well-being of our fellow citizens.

The visits by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, in March 2016, to Jordan and Prime Minister Abdullah Mulki, a year after, to Turkey gave an impetus to bilateral relations.

It is time to follow-up, now. In investment, transport, logistics, tourism and civil aviation stakes are high.

It must be well noted that in the last six months, four big trade missions from Turkey came to Jordan, the last focussing especially on Aqaba.

At the Turkish embassy, we try to make use of all Turkey’s assets and capabilities to deepen and broaden our partnership.

The Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency, the Turkish Airlines, the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Centre and the Turkish-Jordanian Friendship Committee are other stakeholders in this process.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the great support for and solidarity with the Turkish people displayed by the Royal Court, the government and people of Jordan when Turkey faced, on July 15 last year, a failed coup attempt staged by the terrorist organisation FETÖ.

We deeply appreciate the measures taken by the Jordanian authorities to uphold our common democratic values.

To conclude, a Turkish proverb says “no road is long in the presence of good company”.

I believe that Turkey and Jordan are destined to walk side by side long distances for a better future for their peoples, based on their fraternity.

Happy 70th anniversary!

 

 

The writer is ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Jordan. He contributed this article to The Jordan Times.

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