There are only four months that the Turkish Ambassador, Murat Ahmet Yoruk is in Albania but, however, as he told Albanian Daily News in an exclusive interview the excitement of being Ankara's top diplomatic envoy to Tirana is an amazing feeling since Turkish-Albanian relations are deep rooted and exclusive in all walks of life.
"I would like to reiterate that the relations between Turkey and Albania are excellent and exemplary in all fields. However, we should carry them to higher levels as it is our duty to advance the welfare and wellbeing of our respective people. We live in a competitive global world. It is like riding a bike on a steep slope. The second we give up pedaling we might fall," he said.
Ambassador Yoruk said that taking into consideration the visionary approaches and strong political wills of H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of the Republic of Turkey, and H.E. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, his main task is to exploit the great potential between the two countries in a win-win situation.
"What are my priorities? My priorities are also priorities of Albania. In other words, promoting political, economic and commercial relations, mutual cooperation in important strategic projects in the field of i.e. infrastructure, energy, mining, tourism, bringing serious investors to Albania are my priorities. The wealth generated by the increase of economic-trade activities of the Turkish companies would be a useful daily supplement during the EU reform process of Albania," explained the Ambassador enthusiastically.
Touching upon Turkey's general vision and foreign policy for the Balkans, the Ambassador noted that his country's foreign policy towards Balkans was shaped by the principles of regional ownership and inclusiveness. "One of our leading objectives is the acceleration of the existing cooperation with each and every Balkan country through the creation of areas of joint interests. The integration of Balkan countries to the Euro-Atlantic institutions is another objective as well. Turkey's main export markets are the EU almost. In this sense, Balkans is the main transit route for our trade to EU markets," he said.
But, Mr. Yoruk finds the "Western Balkans" terminology rather an artificial one, as it is not right to divide the Balkans as West/East or South/North.
"Turkey considers the Balkans as a whole. Historically, geographically and culturally Balkans is Balkans. For example, whatever happens in Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kosovo, you can feel its resonance at the borders of Bulgaria and Turkey. Those artificial divisions would not serve politically in the long run," said Mr. Yoruk.
In the meantime, according to the Ambassador, the "Fethullahist Terror Organization" (FETO's) threat to Turkey has a cross-border character. "This means that elimination of FETO presence in Albania is vital and important for us," he underscored. "Following the failed coup attempt, many FETO fugitives fled also to Albania. We are still waiting for the official extradition of these FETO fugitives from Albania to Turkey; because, as our strategic partner and genuine friend, Albanian authorities should not allow their territories to be used as a sheltering ground for a terror organization. Thus, it is of paramount importance to us that their activities in Albania be eliminated at the earliest. As Prime Minister Rama underlined in the recent TV talk show "Tonight Ilva Tare" a few weeks ago that "FETO is also a serious threat to Albanian national security", I could not agree more than that," said Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yoruk in the following interview:
Albanian Daily News: It's now almost four months that you represent Turkey as its top diplomatic envoy to Tirana. How do you feel yourself in such a position, and although the time is relatively short which are your impressions on Albania and its people?
Ambassador Murat Ahmet Yoruk: First of all, to represent Turkey and Turkish people is a great honour wherever it is. However the excitement of being the Turkish Ambassador in Tirana is an amazing feeling since Turkish-Albanian relations are deep rooted and exclusive in all walks of life. Although it has been only four months, each and every day I feel more enthusiasm for furthering our excellent relations in every possible avenue.
Albanian people are very hardworking, educated and adaptive. The cordial approach and respect, shown to our Embassy and the Turkish flag by the Albanian authorities and Albanians wherever I visit is a privilege and honor. It is true that the responsibility for fulfilling high expectations from a Turkish Ambassador puts a heavy burden on my shoulders. This means I and my team should work very hard.
I see that this burden has its own unique character due to our intensive relations combined with historical and genuine kinship bonds between our people. Having also inspired by those special bonds, I would like to further and deepen our excellent bilateral relations with a visionary agenda supported by concrete projects.
While building together our common future with a vision, we should aim at generating mutual benefits. Now, it is the right time to enrich our strategic partnership and untap the full potential of our respective countries.
- As a follow up, how would you describe the level of the relations between Albania and Turkey? Is the close and intense cooperation in political relations reflected sufficiently on the economic and commercial relations, and in this frame which are some of the main priorities during your tenure?
- I would like to reiterate that the relations between Turkey and Albania are excellent and exemplary in all fields. However, we should carry them to higher levels as it is our duty to advance the welfare and wellbeing of our respective people. We live in a competitive global world. It is like riding a bike on a steep slope. The second we give up pedaling we might fall.
We are two countries that benefit the most from the political and economic stability in the Balkans, to which our two countries play a key role.
Taking into consideration the visionary approaches and strong political wills of H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, the President of the Republic of Turkey, and H.E. Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, my main task is to exploit the great potential between our two countries in a win-win situation. What are my priorities? My priorities are also priorities of Albania. In other words, promoting political, economic and commercial relations, mutual cooperation in important strategic projects in the field of i.e. infrastructure, energy, mining, tourism, bringing serious investors to Albania are my priorities. The wealth generated by the increase of economic-trade activities of the Turkish companies would be a useful daily supplement during the EU reform process of Albania.
Our worldwide investor companies and global institutions which have professional experience in their fields such as TIKA and Yunus Emre, will continue to be the main interlocutors in enhancing Turkish-Albanian relations in all fields.
By the way, as we have supported Albania for the NATO membership, we continue to support the EU process of Albania from the very beginning. We are not only supporting Albania's EU accession for regional peace and stability, but also for the economic prosperity of her immediate vicinity.
Let me touch upon our general vision and foreign policy for the Balkans as well. Turkey's foreign policy towards Balkans is shaped by the principles of regional ownership and inclusiveness. One of our leading objectives is the acceleration of the existing cooperation with each and every Balkan country through the creation of areas of joint interests. The integration of Balkan countries to the Euro-Atlantic institutions is another objective as well. Turkey's main export markets are the EU almost. In this sense, Balkans is the main transit route for our trade to EU markets.
At this point, I would like to emphasize that we find "Western Balkans" terminology rather an artificial one. I think it is not right to divide the Balkans as West/East or South/North. Turkey considers the Balkans as a whole. Historically, geographically and culturally Balkans is Balkans. For example, whatever happens in Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kosovo, you can feel its resonance at the borders of Bulgaria and Turkey. Those artificial divisions would not serve politically in the long run.
We have been in this geography for centuries. Actually, Turkey is a natural part of the Balkans. We have moved with the socio-cultural dynamics of this region for centuries and this fact cannot be denied. Do you know that one out of three people in Turkey has a Balkan origin? It means that, we have many relatives living in the Balkan countries.
Here, I would like to open another parenthesis. When Turkey gets into infrastructure projects or cultural activities, some circles are not very happy to see the Turkish-Albanian relations are fostering. Surprisingly, they even label our activities as "Neo-Ottomanism". I would once again like to remind that Turkey itself is a Balkan country and have been in the Balkans since 14th century. Therefore, it is quite normal to have close and active relations in this neighborhood.
In doing so, we also use our sources for social, economic, educational projects and for the preservation of common cultural heritage for the benefit of friendly Balkan countries to enhance our relations with them. For example, only in Albania, TIKA has implemented more than 400 projects that include not only restoration of historical monuments (mosques, bridges, fountains etc.), which are the part of our common historical heritage but also schools, kindergartens, hospitals, sewage systems, agricultural projects, humanitarian aid etc.
In the meantime, our investors and businessmen are here to increase our bilateral trade volume and for the joint infrastructure projects, which at the end of the day will increase the wealth and employment in Albania. If these efforts would be labeled as neo-Ottomanism, the efforts of other countries should also be labeled as "neo-something". We find it surprising that even some of our Allies in Europe have produced claims to the effect that Turkey, an EU candidate, is attempting to derail the Balkan countries from their European destination. It is a far-fetched perspective and its main aim is to discredit Turkey's constructive political and economic efforts in this region.
On the contrary, starting from Albania we consider the whole region as a fertile ground for further cooperation with our European friends.
- The level of the exchange of visits between the authorities of the two countries has been at high level in the past, an ample expression of relations between two strategic partners. Can you share any details on the 'agenda' of such exchanges during this year?
- We are pleased and privileged that Albania declared Turkey as a strategic and reliable partner in 2013. In this respect, the level and the agenda of bilateral visits have always been and are still high and very positive.
As you are kindly aware, we will be having Presidential and Parliamentary elections on June 24th. I am confident that, following these elections, the intensity and the frequency of mutual visits will regain its natural momentum as we used to have in the past.
- Mr. Ambassador, how do you assess Albania's role in the Balkans and which are some of the joint efforts between the two countries to strengthen and promote peace, stability and cooperation in the region, particularly in the economic, tourism and cultural fields?
- Albania, with its solid and established political and economic system, is a guarantor of peace and stability in the region. Being a member of the NATO and a prominent EU candidate, Albania will fortify this role in the coming years. With our traditional excellent friendly relations nourished by common interests in many areas, we are ready to cooperate in every field which is deemed useful for the mutual benefits of our two countries.
- In conclusion, Your Excellency, Turkey passed through a difficult time when an attempted military coup happened in July 2016, and Fethullah Gulen and his network FETO are blamed for that by official Ankara. In your view do Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, and his network, still pose a threat to Turkey? As a matter of fact, FETO has been present in Albania, especially in the education system, since long. How do you view this and in what way you expect to counterbalance its activity and influence?
- "Fethullahist Terror Organization" (FETO's) threat to Turkey has a cross-border character. This means that elimination of FETO presence in Albania is vital and important for us. Just after the communism period, FETO started to operate in Albania in early 1990s.
During years, the FETO virus has spread ranging from education to health, from private companies to religious institutions. It is not a secret that Fethullahist Terror Organization is still active in Albania. FETO runs 5 high schools, 4 madrasas, 2 universities, a hospital, a printing house and dozens of other workplaces in Albania.
Following the failure of 15 July bloody coup attempt in Turkey where FETO militants killed 250 innocent Turkish citizens and injured thousands with the cruelest methods only in one night, we, since that night, call them "traitors" as they have killed their own innocent citizens with a cold blooded manner.
Following the failed coup attempt, many FETO fugitives fled also to Albania. We are still waiting for the official extradition of these FETO fugitives from Albania to Turkey. Because, as our strategic partner and genuine friend, Albanian authorities should not allow their territories to be used as a sheltering ground for a terror organization. Thus, it is of paramount importance to us that their activities in Albania be eliminated at the earliest. As Prime Minister Rama underlined in the recent TV talk show "Tonight Ilva Tare" a few weeks ago that "FETO is also a serious threat to Albanian national security", I could not agree more than that.
Having been established in June 2016, Turkish Maarif Foundation is tasked with establishing reliable schools with international standards in friendly countries. As regards Albania, we are in the process of overtaking a prestigious education institution very soon.
I also would like to stress out that regarding the deportation of six Turkish senior members of FETO from Kosovo to Turkey, some circles have created falsified stories depicting these people as victims. This operation has been realized with the assistance of legal and intelligence authorities of Kosovo. Turkey attaches utmost importance to the rule of law, and act in line with the international obligations. We reject and condemn these news reports claiming that six Turkish men were innocent. We also expect from our real friends to have a solid and uncompromising stand against the manipulations of the members of FETO and the circles supporting them.