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TURKEY, IRAN AND RUSSIA AGAINST THE UNITED STATES?
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 GMT+04:00
Changes in the geopolitical map of the region, which we have not
once discussed, are already evident: Ankara is vigorously forcing
out the U.S. from the zone of her interests, including the American
"presence" in Armenia.
The concluded in Istanbul economic summit of Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) was a breakthrough in Turkish-Iranian
relations. Warming in relations of the countries professing different
denominations of Islam, could be observed since long ago, but it was
in Istanbul that these relations finally took a form of an agreement
which in no way pleases the U.S.A and Europe, and, most of all, Russia.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A very important and serious agreement was signed
in Istanbul, an agreement on the delivery of Iranian nuclear fuel to
the Turkish atomic power plant under construction. And if we also take
into consideration that Turkey's first nuclear power plant is to be
built by Russia, it becomes clear that very soon yet another scandal
could flare up between Washington and Ankara. It is appropriate to
recall here that the U.S. imposed sanctions against Iran as early as
in 1996 (Iran and Libya Sanctions Act).
Under ILSA, all foreign companies that provide investments over
$40 million for the development of petroleum resources in Iran
will be imposed sanctions. In 2001 the U.S. Congress renewed the
law for another five years. The European Commission criticized the
ILSA extension and threatened to retaliate if sanctions were imposed
against European companies. In 2002 the United States blocked Iran's
bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Later in the same year,
under the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992, the United
States sanctioned nine Chinese companies and one Indian entity for
selling prohibited goods to Iran. In all probability, the U.S.
administration will act similarly now, when Turkey enters into an
agreement with Iran on supplying gas and oil. Moreover, Ankara will
try to "push" Iran into Nabucco. Most likely Ankara will succeed
in her attempts, especially since the behavior of her capricious
"younger brother" begins to annoy. And for some reason, the Armenian
media outlets treat very seriously the Turkish opposition leaders'
statements that appear in the Baku press and, what is more harmful,
they circulate them in Armenia, creating a false impression of
the Turkish opposition. It is true that the latter is against
the Armenian-Turkish relations, but obviously not because of the
"occupied territories".
However, we digress. In the Turkish-Iranian deal quite clearly is
traced the Russian track. If the agreement on the nuclear power
plant is implemented, Washington will not be able to exert as much
pressure on Tehran's nuclear program as she does now. However, we
must also admit that this pressure little affects Iran, who does
whatever she finds necessary and even begins to teach, for example,
the EU to "accept Turkey into the European family". This statement
by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is well-founded: being a European Union member
state, Turkey would be able to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran and
ease the pressure of the EU on the same nuclear program. In a word,
changes in the geopolitical map of the region, which we have not
once discussed, are already evident: Ankara is vigorously forcing
out the U.S. from the zone of her interests, including the American
"presence" in Armenia. Roughly speaking, Turkey is clearing some
space for Russia, in order to, in the near future, oust her and
become a truly regional power. Maybe even in conjunction with Iran,
the interests of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia will not play any
role. If the South Caucasus countries accept the new Turkish game, they
will remain unharmed, if not, the war in the region, still referred
to hypothetically, could become a reality. With the second largest
NATO army, it would be quite easy for Turkey to solve all her problems.
Karine Ter-Sahakyan
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.11.2009 GMT+04:00
Changes in the geopolitical map of the region, which we have not
once discussed, are already evident: Ankara is vigorously forcing
out the U.S. from the zone of her interests, including the American
"presence" in Armenia.
The concluded in Istanbul economic summit of Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC) was a breakthrough in Turkish-Iranian
relations. Warming in relations of the countries professing different
denominations of Islam, could be observed since long ago, but it was
in Istanbul that these relations finally took a form of an agreement
which in no way pleases the U.S.A and Europe, and, most of all, Russia.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A very important and serious agreement was signed
in Istanbul, an agreement on the delivery of Iranian nuclear fuel to
the Turkish atomic power plant under construction. And if we also take
into consideration that Turkey's first nuclear power plant is to be
built by Russia, it becomes clear that very soon yet another scandal
could flare up between Washington and Ankara. It is appropriate to
recall here that the U.S. imposed sanctions against Iran as early as
in 1996 (Iran and Libya Sanctions Act).
Under ILSA, all foreign companies that provide investments over
$40 million for the development of petroleum resources in Iran
will be imposed sanctions. In 2001 the U.S. Congress renewed the
law for another five years. The European Commission criticized the
ILSA extension and threatened to retaliate if sanctions were imposed
against European companies. In 2002 the United States blocked Iran's
bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Later in the same year,
under the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992, the United
States sanctioned nine Chinese companies and one Indian entity for
selling prohibited goods to Iran. In all probability, the U.S.
administration will act similarly now, when Turkey enters into an
agreement with Iran on supplying gas and oil. Moreover, Ankara will
try to "push" Iran into Nabucco. Most likely Ankara will succeed
in her attempts, especially since the behavior of her capricious
"younger brother" begins to annoy. And for some reason, the Armenian
media outlets treat very seriously the Turkish opposition leaders'
statements that appear in the Baku press and, what is more harmful,
they circulate them in Armenia, creating a false impression of
the Turkish opposition. It is true that the latter is against
the Armenian-Turkish relations, but obviously not because of the
"occupied territories".
However, we digress. In the Turkish-Iranian deal quite clearly is
traced the Russian track. If the agreement on the nuclear power
plant is implemented, Washington will not be able to exert as much
pressure on Tehran's nuclear program as she does now. However, we
must also admit that this pressure little affects Iran, who does
whatever she finds necessary and even begins to teach, for example,
the EU to "accept Turkey into the European family". This statement
by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is well-founded: being a European Union member
state, Turkey would be able to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran and
ease the pressure of the EU on the same nuclear program. In a word,
changes in the geopolitical map of the region, which we have not
once discussed, are already evident: Ankara is vigorously forcing
out the U.S. from the zone of her interests, including the American
"presence" in Armenia. Roughly speaking, Turkey is clearing some
space for Russia, in order to, in the near future, oust her and
become a truly regional power. Maybe even in conjunction with Iran,
the interests of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia will not play any
role. If the South Caucasus countries accept the new Turkish game, they
will remain unharmed, if not, the war in the region, still referred
to hypothetically, could become a reality. With the second largest
NATO army, it would be quite easy for Turkey to solve all her problems.