by Mohamad Ali Harissi, Ren Ke
BEIRUT, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- During Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's three-day visit to Turkey, the two countries inked six agreements, including deals to lift entry visas and expand bilateral military cooperation.
The warm welcome Hariri found in Turkey on both personal and national levels is not only a clear sign of Hariri's personal success in his first economic mission abroad, but also of great benefits to both countries eager to boost their regional clouts, local analysts said.
RECLAIMING LEGACY OF HIS FATHER
The 40-year-old Lebanese prime minister found in Turkey what seems to be the perfect opportunity to reclaim the international legacy of his father former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, who was killed in a car bomb in Beirut in 2005 that his supporters blamed on Syria. Damascus has consistently denied responsibility.
Rafiq was known as Lebanon's "International Man," as the late billionaire weaved carefully a huge network around the globe.
While Rafiq was accused by some politicians of driving Lebanon into debts, he was also praised as the architect of its rebirth and renewed confidence after 15 years of civil war from 1975 to 1990.
It seems that Saad, the political heir of his father, is following his father's footsteps, the analysts said.
Saad took the first step by visiting Syria in December. He shook hands with Bashar al-Assad, president of the country he has accused of being behind his father's killing.
The visit marked the end of a four-year tension in bilateral relations since the assassination of Rafiq and also signals more importantly a turning point in relations dogged by Syria's three-decade domination of its smaller neighbor.
This time around Saad took his second step to Turkey. A warm welcome from Turkish leaders, and promising economic and military agreements, showed that Hariri as the prime minister passed this major test abroad, analysts said.
During a banquet held on his honor in Istanbul on Tuesday, the Lebanese prime minister repeated his father's words, saying that "the Lebanese people are able to move on, despite the wars witnessed by the country, because we are people who want to live and build a country."
BOOSTING TURKEY'S REGIONAL ROLE
Turkey emerged in the past few years as a regional power. As the Financial Times puts it, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party is re-engaging with territories once ruled by the sultans, from the Balkans to Baghdad, in a drive to return Turkey to a place among the leadership of the Muslim world and the top ranks of international diplomacy.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu rejects the expansionist tag of "neo-Ottoman" by AK critics, highlighting his well-used slogan "zero problems with neighbors."
The U.S. and the European Union praise this unobjectionable aim: to act as a force for stability in an unstable region.
Hariri's visit to Ankara which ended on Tuesday offers Turkish leadership the opportunity to demonstrate this newly gained role in the Middle East.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Hariri that he asked al-Assad to visit Beirut during their meeting in December)in a bid to help improve relations between Lebanon and Syria.
Hariri hailed Turkey's ever developing ties with Arab countries and increasing activities in peace efforts in the Middle East.
"We hope and expect Turkey to continue playing a positive role in brokering peace," he said, referring to Turkey's mediation between Israel and Syria, and to Turkey's decision to scrap visas with many Arab counties, including Lebanon and Syria.
Turkey holds good relations with Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah, who fought a war with Israel in 2006. Turkish troops have been participating in the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)since the end of the war.
Lebanese lawmaker Mohammad Qabbani said that Hariri's three-day visit to Turkey is very important in view of Turkey's effective role in the Middle East.
He told Lebanese local Future News TV channel Tuesday that Turkey's foreign policy is witnessing major changes, especially in its stances towards Israel and the West.
AN EMERGING PARTNERSHIP?
The six agreements signed during Hariri's trip to Turkey include deals on scraping visa requirements and expanding military cooperation.
Hariri said he appreciated Turkey's support for Lebanon's security and stability, noting that his country saw Turkey as a partner in building regional security and prosperity.
Lebanon could see Turkey as a possible arms provider, the observers said. In other words, an alternative to U.S. and Russia.
The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)'s equipment is outdated due to lack of funds and political bickering. Although Washington provides training for the LAF, it refuses to equip it with advanced weapons, for fear of Hezbollah putting his hands on the equipment.
A U.S. promise to supply Lebanon with AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter came under discussions in 2008, but it has never been clearly confirmed. Russia's plan to supply Lebanon with 10 MiG-29 jet fighters also remains empty promise till now.
The LAF Commander General Jean Qahwaji, said last week that the army is entitled to have access to advanced weapons, noting that the army is looking for equipment and weapons from "friendly and brotherly armies."
As for the deal on visa exemption between Turkey and Lebanon, it comes after similar deals between Turkey and Syria, and Turkey and Jordan.
Beirut newspapers said on Tuesday that the measure is similar to the Schengen visa application which has made travelling between European Union member countries much easier and less bureaucratic.
Lebanon's Minister of Public Works and Transportation Ghazi Areedi told Future TV News that "the decision to eliminate the visas is a strategic decision which will allow further cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of business and trade."
Erdogan said Turkey would also supply natural gas and electricity to help meet Lebanon's energy needs, and that the two countries planned a ferry service between their Mediterranean coasts.
Turkish Environment Minster Veysel Eroglu also said Tuesday that Lebanon and Turkey will sign 53 agreements during Erdogan's upcoming visit to Beirut in July.
