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Russia: Ties with Turkey should ‘continue, deepen’ under whoever is elected president


The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia expected cooperation with Turkey to “continue, deepen and expand” regardless of who wins the presidential election which has shaped up to be the biggest challenge to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 20-year rule.

Turkey’s tightly fought presidential election ended with both contenders failing to secure 50 percent of the votes. State-run TRT World and Anadolu Agency reported that on Monday that Erdogan took the lead with 49.5 percent, while the opposition’s candidate Kilicdaroglu stood at 44.89 percent, after 99.87 percent of ballot boxes were opened.

Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu will now face off in a run-off election to be held on May 28.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Of course, we are watching the news that is coming from Turkey these days with great interest and attention. We respect and will respect the choice of the Turkish people. But in any case, we expect that our cooperation will continue, deepen and expand.”

Peskov highlighted all the aspects of “mutually beneficial cooperation” between Moscow and Ankara such as in energy, tourism, trade, agriculture, and transport among others.

The Russian official added: “Turkey is a developed democracy, a strong sovereign country, which, naturally, is capable of holding transparent and democratic elections and preventing any illegal actions. We have no doubt about that.”

Erdogan and Putin: Two peas in a pod

Erdogan is a longtime ally of fellow strongman Russian President Vladimir Putin and has worked towards establishing closer ties between Turkey and Russia over the years through energy cooperation, military partnerships, and regional alignment. On the flipside, Russia benefits from access to Turkish markets and increased geopolitical influence.

Meanwhile, the US and NATO have been sounding the alarm over the deepening of Turkish-Russian ties, expressing concern over Ankara’s commitment to the North Atlantic alliance, its values and its collective security. Turkey’s Western allies questioned whether Ankara, having such deep ties to Moscow, could prioritize Western interests over its own regional ambitions. The procurement of the S-400 system missile defense system, in particular, has strained Turkey's relations with its NATO allies, as it is incompatible with the alliance's defense infrastructure and poses potential security risks. The US has also imposed sanctions on Turkey in response to the S-400 deal, further straining bilateral relations.

The West has also expressed similar concerns about the authoritarian rule, leadership styles and approaches to governance of both Erdogan and Putin, often referred to by diplomats and political pundits as “two peas in a pod.”

Both leaders have displayed tendencies towards centralization of power, consolidation of authority, and an erosion of democratic values. Erdogan's concentration of power in Turkey, through constitutional reforms and crackdowns on opposition voices, has drawn comparisons to Putin's strongman rule in Russia. This parallel raised worries about the erosion of democratic checks and balances and the potential impact on human rights, freedom of the press, and the rule of law.

Rocky start

Meanwhile, Turkish opposition contender Kilicdaroglu has positioned himself as the anti-Erdogan who will right the course of Turkey back to democratic rule and values. He has been critical of Erdogan's government, particularly in areas such as human rights, freedom of expression, and economic policies.

Kilicdaroglu plans to quash key Erdogan policies, and aims to establish a more moderate government domestically and pursue a more balanced foreign policy that will aim to repair frayed ties with NATO, the US and the EU.

Turkey’s ties with the West would likely become friendlier should Kilicdaroglu win, as his secularist ideology would align with Western allies’ approach and would be a welcome change from Erdogan’s contentious tactics.

Question remains of what shape would Turkey-Russia ties take under a Kilicdaroglu presidency? Should Kilicdaroglu win, his relationship with Russia would be off to a rocky start given that he accused Moscow of interfering in the Turkish election. A claim the Kremlin denied.

Kilicdaroglu told Reuters in an interview: “We find it unacceptable for another country to interfere in Turkey's election process in favor of a political party. I wanted the whole world to be aware of this.”

“We don't want to break our friendly relations, but we will not allow interference in our internal matters,” he said.

Peskov denied the claim last week and said in response to the accusation: “We are extremely disappointed with this statement of the opposition in Turkey.”

For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

Read more:

Turkey election: Both Erdogan, Kilicdaroglu claim to be ahead as vote count ongoing

Runoff looms over Turkey’s horizon: Erdogan's support falls under 50 pct

Turkey at a crossroads: Sultan vs democrat election puts country’s future on the line

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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