Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey participated in the panel entitled “Turkey and the Arab World: İstanbul the Strategic Meeting Point” within the scope of the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum held in İstanbul on 4-5 April 2013.

Speaking in the panel which Mr. Amr Moussa, Former Secretary General of the Arab League and Mr. Khalid Bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs also attended, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out the need for establishment of new common markets in economic relations and stressed that therefore, it is aimed to abolish all visas between Turkey and the Arab countries. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu also stated that the vision developed by statesmen cannot be sustainable without the support of the businessmen. “We need a common market. Leaders meet in palaces, but the people meet in market. Real-life is visible in markets. We as intellectuals, politicians and businessmen rediscover each other.” he added.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu referring to the high-level political dialogue mechanisms established within the new Middle East vision underlined that “the psychological barrier” between Turkey and the Arab world has been exceeded. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that the high-level mechanisms with Egypt and Tunisia were established, moreover talks with Libya and Morocco continue to this effect and it is Turkey’s sincere desire to establish such mechanisms with all Arab countries. He emphasized that the high-level mechanism between Turkey and Syria will be revitalized with Syria’s new and legitimate administration which enjoys the support of the people.

Stressing that Turkey asks “maximum economic integration” in the region, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that such integration rests on a cultural background.

Touching on the latest developments in Syria, “The problem in Syria is that the regime responses the demands of the people despotically without trying to understand while destroying both itself and the country” Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said. Turkey minds to act together with the Arab world and the Arab League concerning Syria, he recalled.

Turkish-Arab Forum is formed with the aim of to develop political, social, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and the Arab League and has organized every year since 2008.