"Turkey's new diplomatic model
Turkish Daily News
Friday, July 13, 2007
OPINIONS
David MERAHN
Istanbul – In the past few weeks both Turkey and Jordan have played critical roles in two very different types of meetings. In Istanbul, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) celebrated its 15th anniversary by hosting the leaders of participating nations, including political heavyweight Russian President Vladimir Putin. Across town the third annual Turkish-German Economic Congress was being held to bolster business ties between the two countries. Meanwhile Jordanian leaders met with the heads of state from Israel and Egypt at a Red Sea resort to assert their support for moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Upon returning from Egypt, Jordanian royalty was visited by the king of Saudi Arabia to discuss the Saudi Peace initiative, after which Jordan called for stronger efforts to establish a Palestinian state and a lasting peace with Israel. A look at these meetings demonstrates the difference in roles that these two moderate Middle Eastern nations have chosen."
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