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Zaman Online, Turkey
March 23 2006
US has no Military Demand on Turkey
By Suleyman Kurt, Ankara
Published: Thursday, March 23, 2006
zaman.com
American lobbying against Iran over its nuclear activities was
carried to the Turkish capital, Ankara, as well.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for the Middle
East Gordon Gray announced the United States will make no military
demand from Turkey regarding the Iranian problem.
`We are focusing on the diplomatic process and are happy that Turkey
supports this process,' Gray said.
Ankara discusses with top level US authorities the Iranian nuclear
crisis, over which a consensus failed to be reached and was referred
to the UN Security Council.
Gray met separately with Foreign Ministry Assistant Adviser
Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu, Prime Ministry Foreign Politics Adviser
Ambassador Ali Yakital and a group of deputies in Ankara yesterday.
Iran and Iraq, in particular, were handled during the talks.
The talks reportedly originated from the US `need to be informed as
part of close relationships.'
It is the continuation of earlier visits. The parties once again
refreshed the agreement over the solution of the Iran problem through
diplomatic channels. The US also demands sanctions be imposed on Iran
due to its nuclear problem and expects Ankara to pressure Tehran.
The Turkish foreign minister had sent the message that they would
have to close the door on Iran if the international community
displayed a common attitude.
After his contacts, Gray held a press conference and responded to
questions from reporters.
Gray said the US `depends on the diplomatic process' for a solution
to the problem. Upon being asked `Will you make a military operation
demand on Turkey in the case the diplomatic process fails?' Gray gave
the precise answer of `no.'
Gray, underlining Turkey and the US are face to face with the same
problem in the region, said, `The problem is not between Iran and the
US or between Iran and the EU; it is between Iran and the rest of the
international community.'
US diplomatic traffic in Ankara will continue with contacts with a
senate delegation chaired by US Senate Defense Committee Chairman
John Warner. The senators will start with a tour of the capital and a
visit to Anitkabir before meeting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and party deputies. The Armenian draft in the US Congress will be
handled during the negotiations and support will be requested.
US Chief of General Staff Gen. Peter Pace will arrive in Turkey today
to join the symposium on `Global Terror and International
Cooperation' organized by the Turkish General Staff. Pace is expected
to assess the developments in the region with his Turkish
counterparts in private talks.
March 23 2006
US has no Military Demand on Turkey
By Suleyman Kurt, Ankara
Published: Thursday, March 23, 2006
zaman.com
American lobbying against Iran over its nuclear activities was
carried to the Turkish capital, Ankara, as well.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for the Middle
East Gordon Gray announced the United States will make no military
demand from Turkey regarding the Iranian problem.
`We are focusing on the diplomatic process and are happy that Turkey
supports this process,' Gray said.
Ankara discusses with top level US authorities the Iranian nuclear
crisis, over which a consensus failed to be reached and was referred
to the UN Security Council.
Gray met separately with Foreign Ministry Assistant Adviser
Ambassador Ahmet Uzumcu, Prime Ministry Foreign Politics Adviser
Ambassador Ali Yakital and a group of deputies in Ankara yesterday.
Iran and Iraq, in particular, were handled during the talks.
The talks reportedly originated from the US `need to be informed as
part of close relationships.'
It is the continuation of earlier visits. The parties once again
refreshed the agreement over the solution of the Iran problem through
diplomatic channels. The US also demands sanctions be imposed on Iran
due to its nuclear problem and expects Ankara to pressure Tehran.
The Turkish foreign minister had sent the message that they would
have to close the door on Iran if the international community
displayed a common attitude.
After his contacts, Gray held a press conference and responded to
questions from reporters.
Gray said the US `depends on the diplomatic process' for a solution
to the problem. Upon being asked `Will you make a military operation
demand on Turkey in the case the diplomatic process fails?' Gray gave
the precise answer of `no.'
Gray, underlining Turkey and the US are face to face with the same
problem in the region, said, `The problem is not between Iran and the
US or between Iran and the EU; it is between Iran and the rest of the
international community.'
US diplomatic traffic in Ankara will continue with contacts with a
senate delegation chaired by US Senate Defense Committee Chairman
John Warner. The senators will start with a tour of the capital and a
visit to Anitkabir before meeting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and party deputies. The Armenian draft in the US Congress will be
handled during the negotiations and support will be requested.
US Chief of General Staff Gen. Peter Pace will arrive in Turkey today
to join the symposium on `Global Terror and International
Cooperation' organized by the Turkish General Staff. Pace is expected
to assess the developments in the region with his Turkish
counterparts in private talks.