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American Foreign Policy Council, Washington, DC Associate Editor: Christopher Kelley
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TURKEY PLAYS PEACEMAKER Following months of tension between Ankara and Jerusalem, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul embarked upon a high-profile diplomatic mission to Israel in early January. In meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, and President Moshe Katzav, Gul conveyed his “optimism” about fresh possibilities for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. “There is a new atmosphere in the region and this new atmosphere is important,” Gul announced to reporters in Jerusalem. “There has not been such a positive atmosphere for years in the region and it is necessary to utilize it in the best way.” The Turkish Foreign Minister also brought with him an unexpected message – a new offer by the government of Bashar al-Assad to restart stalled peace negotiations with Israel. “Turkey believes that Syria is serious about making peace with Israel,” Gul said. “They want to take part in the peace process; they expressed willingness to resume negotiations without preconditions; and they expect a positive Israeli response.” Ankara, meanwhile, is positioning itself to be a key player in both sets of talks. According to the Foreign Minister, “Turkey can play a role in negotiations with both Syria and the Palestinians, since it has the trust of all the parties concerned.” (Ankara NTV/MSNBC, January 4, 2005; Istanbul Anadolu Agency, January 5, 2005; Istanbul Zaman, January 5, 2005) RIYADH LOOKS EAST After months of relative quiet, Saudi Arabia appears to be ramping up its foreign diplomacy – with an eye toward Asia. In early January, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, paid a visit to the Kingdom, where he met with Crown Prince Abdullah and other Saudi government officials to discuss the budding economic, trade and religious ties between Baku and Riyadh. The meetings also yielded an important moral victory for Azerbaijan: the House of Saud’s public support for its stance in the long-running conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Just one day later, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Naimi, in New Delhi for a conference of major oil producing nations, proffered a set of long-term energy contracts to the Indian government. (Baku Azertag, January 6, 2005; Kuwait Times, January 6, 2005) IRAN’S ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN UZBEKISTAN Fresh from its diplomatic successes in Azerbaijan, Iranian officials appear to have set their sights on another former Soviet republic. In early January, Iran’s Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, traveled to Tashkent in the first high-ranking delegation visit of its kind since Uzbekistan’s independence. There, he met with Uzbek Prime Minister Shaykat Irziyayev, Foreign Minister Sodiq Safoyev and other top government officials to discuss a major expansion of bilateral economic ties. According to Aref, trade between Tehran and Tashkent, which topped $290 million during the first three quarters of 2004, should be broadened still further – to $1 billion annually. Aref’s outreach was well received. During his stay, the Iranian Vice President signed five economic cooperation agreements, including a framework accord for a preferential tariff regime between Tehran and Tashkent. (Tehran IRNA, January 5, 2005; Tehran Times, January 7, 2005) HEZBOLLAH’S PALESTINIAN FOOTHOLD Officials in Israel are raising new worries over Hezbollah’s deepening involvement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. According to Israeli intelligence officials, the Lebanese terrorist powerhouse is rapidly expanding its control over Palestinian insurgent groups, co-opting existing terror cells and creating new ones. Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service estimates that the Lebanese Shi’ite militia now directs over 50 separate Palestinian terror cells – a seven-fold increase since 2002. Fatah, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s main political faction – and the party of the Palestinian Authority’s new president, Mahmoud Abbas – is said to be the most deeply penetrated. In 2004, 38 separate Fatah cells were identified by Israeli intelligence as having been co-opted by Hezbollah. (Tel Aviv Ha’aretz, January 11, 2005) |
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© 2005, American Foreign Policy Council.
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