To strengthen its relation with the Arab world, Turkey launched on Sunday its first Arabic-language satellite TV as part of an ambitious plan to promote Turkey's views in the Mideast and North Africa, according to Turkish officials. The new Turkish Radio and Television Corporation(TRT) project, called TRT Turkiya, broadcasts news and documentaries covering politics, economics, entertainment and cultural topics. ”This channel is a bridge between us and the Arabs, said Huseyin Avni Botsali, the Turkish Ambassador in Egypt at a launch gala Sunday night. ”We begin a new 'love relation' with around 300 million Arab audience through this channel," Botsali told the gathering at his residence in Giza, some 20km southwest of central Cairo. Taking up his country's links with Egypt, the diplomat said that Turkey's trade with Egypt had exceeded 3 billion dollars. According to him, Turkey's direct investment in Egypt is nearing 1.5 billion dollars. ”During the last few days, 30 Turkish businessmen have arrived to establish different projects in Egypt," added Botsali. “A co-operation agreement between Egyptian and Turkish TVs will be signed in the coming days.” At 7:30pm Cairo local time on Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the launch of the 24/7 TV satellite channel. " “This day is a historic day in our relations with Arabs," Erdogan said from Istanbul. ”Turks and Arab like the fingers of one hand... like the nail and its flesh. We had the same past and we will have the same future," he added. Akmal Eddine Ihsan Oglo, the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Conference who also attended the launch in Istanbul, said that "this channel helps achieve more compatibility between Turk and the Arab countries”. I hope more Turkish channels will broadcast in the Arab world," he added. Since coming to power in 2002, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party has made a strategic choice to reintegrate Turkey into the regional Arab political system. This rapprochement has culminated in the opening of an Arab League representative's office in Ankara -- years after such offices were opened in European capitals such as Athens, Madrid or Brussels. Turkey's integration into the politics of the region is a natural outcome of the geographical and historical ties between the Arab world and Turkey, says Ankara. A fortnight ago, Turkey held with Egypt a one-day conference in Cairo to raise US$ one billion for the reconstruction of Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur.
