Mauritania notes

In the days when, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey, a coup attempt was being tried and convicted and this was setting Turkey's agenda, we are in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, for the workshop titled "Turkey–Mauritania Perspectives for a Better Future," organized by the Institute of Strategic Thinking and supported by the Prime Ministry's Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, the Prime Ministry's Public Diplomacy Coordinatorship, and the Foreign Ministry's Center for Strategic Research.

Since 2005, which Turkey declared the Year of Africa, embassies have been opened in many African countries. Mauritania is one of the important stops of this African opening by Turkey. Turkey's most important assessment in this opening is that no region of Africa should be neglected. For that reason, all African countries, North and South, East and West, are on Turkey's agenda of openings.

The great majority of African countries are places where governments are handed over or taken over through coups. Although this de facto situation is seen as normal, there is also a general acceptance that it is not for the good of their countries and that, on the contrary, it must now be overcome. That is why the African Union not only did not hesitate to call the coup in Egypt a coup but suspended its membership. Because this stance against coups, which are already like the routine of politics in Africa, is in a way a message to itself. The Egyptian thinker Fehmi Huveydi had also explained Turkey's extraordinary stance against the Egyptian coup by its suffering from a tradition of coups and the tension it has recently displayed in trying coups. Indeed, it is stressed that remaining silent in the face of the military coup in Egypt could whet the appetite of many coup-makers waiting their turn in Africa.

Mauritanians most see and cite Turkey as a country that, though Muslim, runs democracy very well and has recently made important struggles in this field.

In the future of Turkey–Mauritania relations, besides trade in areas such as fishing and mining, what is most expected is the contribution Turkey can make to Mauritania's democratization with its own experience. Although the person currently in the presidency of Mauritania also came to power through a coup, it is a country whose democracy works, for better or worse, compared to the other countries in Africa. Elections are being held on 23 November, and even though he came through a coup, the current President is trying to sustain his legitimacy through his commitment to the democratic process.

Mauritania is a West African country with a population of 3.5 million, 100 percent of whom are Muslim. It is famous for its ulema and its poets. With this population it is described as a society that harbors "a million poets." Even the Bedouin segments of the country take pride in having had a share of this tradition of learning compared to the Bedouins of other countries. Even when you strike up a bit of conversation with ordinary people you meet on the street, you can feel this learning.

An important part of the country's population still lives in the desert. Around the cities there are tent towns. The Gazra tent town, very close to Nouakchott, is one of them. In these tent towns there is no electricity, no sewage, and none of the water sources needed to ensure cleanliness in minimal conditions. Water in particular is extremely important in these tent towns. The drilling machine brought to the country after the intensive efforts and support of the Turkish Embassy is expected to ease the water problem, if only a little.

The Ambassador, Musa Kulaklıkaya, who previously served as head of TİKA, has, with the performance he has shown since the hour of his appointment 2.5 years ago, practically set up a throne in the hearts of Mauritanians. The Mauritanians we had the chance to chat with say they see Kulaklıkaya less as Turkey's ambassador to Mauritania than as Mauritania's envoy to Turkey. He has excellent Arabic and can converse very comfortably with everyone in Mauritania. We learn, meanwhile, that he improved his Arabic especially after being appointed here, which embodies a very good example of the new generation of Turkish diplomacy.

In fact, Mauritania is almost twice the size of Turkey in terms of land but a country with a very small population. By contrast, it is a complete laboratory for social science studies. It is a very interesting society in terms of class stratification, the status of women and gender culture, ethnic divisions and their reflections in politics. It is a virgin field for those among us who want to work in sociology, anthropology, history and international relations.

Of course there is also the economic and international relations dimension of the matter for Turkey. The country, where French, Canadian, Malaysian, Chinese and American investors have important investments in the mining and fishing sectors, was entirely outside Turkey's interest until 2005. Yet Mauritanians are ready to give priority to investors from Turkey in the operation or marketing of their mines.

The Senate president we met further on says that Turkey deserves every kind of appreciation for keeping its head high for the Islamic world, and that that is why he wants to see Turkey in Mauritania more than anyone, with its businessmen, scholars and men of culture. Another participant said that these days they are remembering Turkey again, together with the sense of loyalty that remains to us regarding Abdülhamid II.

There is much to say about Mauritania, of course, but perhaps we will continue in the coming days with the travel impressions we will prepare with Öner Buçukçu.

After Mauritania we moved on to Tunisia within the same scope. Tunisia, the land of jasmine where the Arab Spring began, is, as you are following, going through very interesting times these days. The interest actually comes from the fact that what is happening is not at all original by our standards, from its similarity to what we lived through years ago.

The intrigues spun by the familiar circles trying to reverse the Spring process suddenly take us back to 28 February and the Sledgehammer plans. Meanwhile the news we read from Turkey announces the Court of Cassation's decision on Sledgehammer. And Turkey advances one more step on the road to democracy. May the same come to Tunisia, to Egypt, to Libya and to all the other countries of the region...