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Kuwait and Turkey share deep-rooted rletions in the region

Turkish researcher in the Strategic Thinking Institute in Ankara Cahid Tuz
Turkish researcher in the Strategic Thinking Institute in Ankara Cahid Tuz

By Redha Sardar

ANKARA, April 26 (KUNA) -- Turkish researcher in the Strategic Thinking Institute in Ankara Cahid Tuz
 stressed here on Sunday the important role Turkey and Kuwait play in resolving the problems of the region.
Tuz said in remarks to KUNA today that both nations are considered as strong countries in the region and share deep-rooted relations.
He hailed the upcoming visit of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait which falls on Monday amidst the ongoing regional developments, especially in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, as both countries share identical views and positions towards various issues.
This visit will also contribute to the exchange of military cooperation and coordination, besides exchange of visits between military officials to best serve the fight against terrorism, he said.
Encountering the terrorist organizations, specifically the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which is considered a real threat to all counties of the region, requires a military, economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries, he affirmed.
The bilateral relations between Kuwait and Turkey during the last three years witnessed a great boost especially in the military and economic aspects, as a large number of Kuwaiti businessmen are investing in Turkey, he added.
The withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq left a great gap in the region, and indicated that international powers are unable to fix its conflicts, he mentioned.
This fact obliges the region's countries to further enhance the joint cooperation, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Turkey, he added.
He stressed the importance of the "Operation Decisive storm" led by the Saudi forces against the Houthi militia in Yemen, saying that such a move sends a message to the world countries that the Islamic World is capable of resolving issues of the region.
The relations between Kuwait and Turkey date back to 1969, recalling an agreement over establishing diplomatic ties and representation, which was later followed by opening of embassies in both nations in 1070.
In year 1975, they signed a joint cultural agreement, followed by an aviation cooperation agreement in 1977, and later signed an agreement on economic and industrial cooperation in 1982, then a post service agreement, and later an investment encouragement and protection agreement.
Following the Liberation of Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion in 1991, the relations between Kuwait and Turkey witnessed a remarkable improvement, as His highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Ankara in November 1991, as he expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Turkish great support to Kuwait during the invasion.
Turkey condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait from its early hours and considered it as a violation of the International law and legitimacy, declaring its solidarity with Kuwait in its sought of regaining independence and sovereignty.
Turkey also during the invasion stopped pumping oil from Iraqi wells passing through the Turkish lands.
In October 1997, the former Turkish President Sulaiman Demirel visited Kuwait and held talks with His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahamd Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as they discussed bilateral relations and issues of common interest.
During the visit, they signed a financial agreement related to preventing double taxation, besides an agreement to boost cultural cooperation.
His Highness late Amir visited Ankara in 2008 and signed seven agreements in various fields, besides other eight agreements.
The Kuwaiti and Turkish sides signed a number of agreements during the period from 2008 to 2013, at the level of Ministries, including a memorandum of understanding in exchange of expertise, trainings and military cooperation, as well as Joint military exercises.
In 2009, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited Istanbul, heading the Kuwaiti delegation to the 25th conference of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), as His Highness the Amir met former Turkish President Abduallah Gul, and they discussed bilateral relations and means to boost them at all levels.
Gul has visited Kuwait three times in February 2009, February 2011 and in March 2014, as both sides signed a number of agreements during those visits including an agreement on exchange of manpower, and a memorandum of understanding on environment protection, economic cooperation, agricultural cooperation, besides others.
Meanwhile, the trade exchange between both countries in 2014 reached around USD 700 million, while the projects implemented by the Turkish real estate companies in Kuwait reached USD 1.6 billion, besides Kuwaiti direct investments in Turkey amounting USD 1.4 billion.
There were 160 Kuwaiti companies investing in Turkey, besides 260 branches of Kuveyt-Turk Bank, affiliated to Kuwait Finance House, bedsides Burgan Bank's possession of shares in a Turkish Bank.
Since 1992, both countries exchanged official visits at the presidential level, parliament speakers, premiers and ministers.
The total number of Kuwaiti visitors to Turkey reached 130,000 in 2014.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development's (KFAED) cooperation with Turkey started since 1979, as KFAED offered 12 loans to Turkey till November of 2009 at the value of KD 101.1 million.
Among the biggest projects was a loan of USD 53 million to reconstruct road networks following the earthquake that hit Turkey in August 1999.
His Highness the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah offered a personal donation of one million dollar to relief the victims of the earthquake and to alleviate the sufferings of the Turkish people, as other Kuwaiti charities also offered great donations and humanitarian aid.
In November of last year, the Kuwaiti-funded "Humanitarian Leader" village was opened in the eastern Turkey city of Van by International Islamic Charitable Organization's (IICO) Chairman and Amiri Diwan's Advisor Abdullah Al-Maatouq.
In 2011, a destructive earthquake hit the city located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. It has a long history as a major urban area.
The IICO built the village at the behest of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to help victims of the quake.
"Humanitarian Leader" village project was financed by the State of Kuwait and supported by Turkey's Humanitarian Relief Foundation.
The village was set up on two phases; the first of which included houses to provide rapid shelters for the people afflicted by the quake, while the second stage includes four apartment blocks with 64 flats.
Kuwait also greatly contributed to the reduction of burdens inflicted on Turkey which hosts more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees, when it hosted international donors' conference to raise funds for UN humanitarian operations in war-torn Syria for three sessions.
Urdogan visited Kuwait in 2005 and 2011 when he was assuming the post of the Prime Minister of Turkey, and described the relations with Kuwait as prominent and distinctive, and plays a great role in the stability of region. (end) rs.lb