With davutoglu's visit, anlysts see emergence of Turkey-Qatar alliance for peace and stability

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu traveled yesterday to Doha for talks with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim al-Thani about the crisis in Egypt. The meeting followed a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Qatari emir. Amid the visit, a new regional alliance is emerging between Turkey and the Gulf state of Qatar, seeking to stamp out political fires in places such as Beirut, Yemen and Cairo, according to some analysts. Some experts think that Qatar wants to enjoy stability and order on par with Turkey. Experts say both countries have peace and stability as their aim, rather than a shift in regional dynamics and balances, and that they share an overlapping approach to resolving the current difficulties. Both countries also enjoy friendly ties with Syria and Iran. "I think the Turkish involvement will make the Qatari role more acceptable and more balanced to all parties, because Turkey also has relationships with Syria and Iran," said Lebanese journalist Abou-Zahr. Qatar, a small country but one of the region's richest due to its large oil and gas reserves, has also played a significant role in the current conflict in Egypt through its ownership of the satellite news channel Al-Jazeera, which has provided comprehensive coverage from the scene. In addition to Lebanon and Egypt, Qatar has also been involved in mediation efforts to solve the Palestinian and Darfour issues. "Turkey can enjoy flourishing ties with Gulf countries through trade deals," said Ahmet Evin of Sabanci University's Istanbul Policy Center. "Turkey and Qatar, in particular, may have complementary sides, but they can't influence the entire region."