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'US CONCERNS OVER SWAP DEAL RELATED TO DOMESTIC POLITICS'
Today's Zaman
May 25 2010
Turkey
President Abdullah Gul has said the United States' reaction to Iran's
nuclear fuel swap deal sealed in Tehran a week ago was related to
domestic politics.
The president said the swap deal was a "requirement" of the EU, the
Vienna Group (the US, Russia, France and the International Atomic
Energy Agency [IAEA]), the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the
UN Security Council -- the US, China, Russia, France and Britain
plus Germany), and the international community. "Their reaction,
as I see it, is related to domestic politics," Gul stressed while
speaking to a group of journalists en route to Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Observers believe US President Barack Obama wants to placate the
Republicans during the midterm congressional elections in November.
The Republicans criticize Obama for having a weak national security
policy vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear ambitions. Despite different views on
Iran, Gul said the US is Turkey's ally and that they are very aware
of the cost of the Iraq war to Turkey, adding that it is in Turkey's
national interest to solve Iran's nuclear dispute through diplomacy.
Gul also ruled out claims that Turkey wants to show itself off in the
international arena by taking on a role in the nuclear crisis. Saying
that US President Obama is following a policy of "engagement,"
repudiating his predecessor George W. Bush's "You are either with us
or against us" rhetoric, Gul said Obama should embrace his policies,
implying that he needs to endorse the nuclear deal agreed with Iran
under Brazilian and Turkish mediation.
Iran on May 17 agreed to ship 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched
uranium to Turkey in a nuclear fuel swap deal that could ease the
international standoff over this country's disputed nuclear program
and head off a US-led push for tougher sanctions in the UN Security
Council.
Saying that the nuclear swap deal is a confidence-building measure,
Gul said other issues will need to be discussed following this step.
He said it is not proper to immediately reject the deal. "The end of
any path other than this is war," he emphasized.
Also speaking about the stalled reconciliation process with Armenia,
Gul said it is important to work silently and decisively. "Today's
status quo is [working] against all countries related [to the
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process]. Silent work continues [to
advance the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process]," the president
noted. He also avoided commenting on newly elected Republican People's
Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, noting that he himself is
no longer a politician.
Asked what Turkey's most important problem is, Gul said the Kurdish
issue. "It needs to be solved with maturity. Terrorism has to come
to an end. It is important to achieve democratic standards. Cyprus
and problems with Armenia are also important," Gul said.
Commenting on the EU not giving Turkey an exact date on its EU
membership, President Gul said the matter is about Turkey. "We need
to implement EU reforms together with an understanding that transcends
political parties," he added.
During his four-day visit to Kazakhstan, President Gul met with his
Kazakh counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Sunday in Shymkent. On
Monday, he traveled to Turkistan to visit the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi
Turkish-Kazakh University. He then came to the capital of Astana to
participate in official meetings.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
May 25 2010
Turkey
President Abdullah Gul has said the United States' reaction to Iran's
nuclear fuel swap deal sealed in Tehran a week ago was related to
domestic politics.
The president said the swap deal was a "requirement" of the EU, the
Vienna Group (the US, Russia, France and the International Atomic
Energy Agency [IAEA]), the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the
UN Security Council -- the US, China, Russia, France and Britain
plus Germany), and the international community. "Their reaction,
as I see it, is related to domestic politics," Gul stressed while
speaking to a group of journalists en route to Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Observers believe US President Barack Obama wants to placate the
Republicans during the midterm congressional elections in November.
The Republicans criticize Obama for having a weak national security
policy vis-a-vis Iran's nuclear ambitions. Despite different views on
Iran, Gul said the US is Turkey's ally and that they are very aware
of the cost of the Iraq war to Turkey, adding that it is in Turkey's
national interest to solve Iran's nuclear dispute through diplomacy.
Gul also ruled out claims that Turkey wants to show itself off in the
international arena by taking on a role in the nuclear crisis. Saying
that US President Obama is following a policy of "engagement,"
repudiating his predecessor George W. Bush's "You are either with us
or against us" rhetoric, Gul said Obama should embrace his policies,
implying that he needs to endorse the nuclear deal agreed with Iran
under Brazilian and Turkish mediation.
Iran on May 17 agreed to ship 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched
uranium to Turkey in a nuclear fuel swap deal that could ease the
international standoff over this country's disputed nuclear program
and head off a US-led push for tougher sanctions in the UN Security
Council.
Saying that the nuclear swap deal is a confidence-building measure,
Gul said other issues will need to be discussed following this step.
He said it is not proper to immediately reject the deal. "The end of
any path other than this is war," he emphasized.
Also speaking about the stalled reconciliation process with Armenia,
Gul said it is important to work silently and decisively. "Today's
status quo is [working] against all countries related [to the
Turkish-Armenian reconciliation process]. Silent work continues [to
advance the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation process]," the president
noted. He also avoided commenting on newly elected Republican People's
Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu, noting that he himself is
no longer a politician.
Asked what Turkey's most important problem is, Gul said the Kurdish
issue. "It needs to be solved with maturity. Terrorism has to come
to an end. It is important to achieve democratic standards. Cyprus
and problems with Armenia are also important," Gul said.
Commenting on the EU not giving Turkey an exact date on its EU
membership, President Gul said the matter is about Turkey. "We need
to implement EU reforms together with an understanding that transcends
political parties," he added.
During his four-day visit to Kazakhstan, President Gul met with his
Kazakh counterpart, Nursultan Nazarbayev, on Sunday in Shymkent. On
Monday, he traveled to Turkistan to visit the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi
Turkish-Kazakh University. He then came to the capital of Astana to
participate in official meetings.
From: A. Papazian