Ankara, Amman discuss efforts to protect Jerusalem

Ongoing issues regarding Palestine and the status of Jerusalem were expected to be discussed during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's one-day visit to Jordan yesterday. Ahead of his departure from Istanbul, Erdoğan said at a press conference that Turkey attaches importance to Jordan's role in protecting holy sites in Jerusalem. "We have established importance of dialogue and coordination regarding the crisis with Jordan regading the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. We do not want similar incidents of harassment, attacks or the violations of civil rights to happen again. For this, Muslims must be in full cooperation on the issue of Jerusalem," Erdoğan said.

Turkey's president was welcomed by Jordanian King Abdullah II with an official ceremony in Amman, later attending closed-door meetings with delegations in the Al-Husseiniya Palace.

Jordan is the custodian of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in east Jerusalem, the third holiest site for Muslims, which sits on top of the Temple Mount, a hill that is considered the most sacred site in Judaism.

Last month, Israel imposed security measures on Al-Aqsa after two police officers were killed at the site. The measures, which included the installation of metal detectors and cameras, led to renewed violence between Palestinians and security forces and led to outrage across the Muslim world.

The visit is of special importance in that it coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Jordan, a country that enjoys deeply rooted historical, humanitarian and cultural ties with Turkey.

President Erdoğan is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Berat Albayrak and Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan during the visit.

In addition to addressing the situation in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories during the meeting with King Abdullah, President Erdoğan aims to boost trade and discuss Syria and Iraq amid concerns regarding the territorial integrity of both countries.

Turkey and Jordan are the two countries that have taken in the largest number of refugees since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, and both share borders with the war-torn country.

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the total value of Turkish exports to Jordan amounted to $300 million in the first five months of this year, while imports were around $50 million. The main exported goods include textiles, jewelry, home appliances, machines and machinery products, motor vehicles and chemicals.Turkey and Jordan signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2009 to increase economic, technical and industrial cooperation and the installation of an appropriate competition environment. The agreement also encourages reciprocal investments and the removal of trade restrictions. The deal took effect in 2011.