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NATO CONCERNED OVER TURKEY'S TENSE RELATIONS WITH CYPRUS AND ISRAEL
Tert.am
10:42 ~U 01.10.11
Nato's secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, expressed disquiet on
Friday about tensions over natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean
between Turkey and Cyprus, The New York Times reported.
Rasmussen said the alliance is concerned also over Turkey's strained
relations with Israel.
Rasmussen said he did not foresee the tension turning into conflict in
the Mediterranean, and he praised Turkey as an indispensable member of
Nato that could be "a bridge" between the West and the Arab countries
now engaged in revolts.
"Obviously the tensions between Turkey and Israel are a matter of
concern," he said in an interview.
"It's a bilateral issue, Nato is not going to interfere with that," he
added, "but it is the interest of the alliance to see these tensions
eased, because Turkey is a key ally and Israel is a valuable partner
for the alliance."
Turkey has become increasingly outspoken in support of the Palestinians
and in its animosity toward Israel, once an important ally.
Rasmussen emphasized that Nato, as an alliance that works by consensus,
would not become involved in bilateral matters or the domestic politics
of member countries.
Asked about Turkey's warning that it might send military ships toward
Cyprus, which is exploring for natural gas in the Mediterranean, as
is Israel, Rasmussen said that "Nato as an organization is not going
to interfere with these disputes," while adding, "I do not envisage
armed conflict in the eastern part of the Mediterranean."
Relations with Turkey have to be managed carefully as it asserts a
growing role on the global stage, he suggested.
"I think Turkey can play a stabilizing role in the region and serve
as a role model for countries in the region that are currently
transforming from dictatorship into democracy," he said.
From: A. Papazian
Tert.am
10:42 ~U 01.10.11
Nato's secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, expressed disquiet on
Friday about tensions over natural gas exploration in the Mediterranean
between Turkey and Cyprus, The New York Times reported.
Rasmussen said the alliance is concerned also over Turkey's strained
relations with Israel.
Rasmussen said he did not foresee the tension turning into conflict in
the Mediterranean, and he praised Turkey as an indispensable member of
Nato that could be "a bridge" between the West and the Arab countries
now engaged in revolts.
"Obviously the tensions between Turkey and Israel are a matter of
concern," he said in an interview.
"It's a bilateral issue, Nato is not going to interfere with that," he
added, "but it is the interest of the alliance to see these tensions
eased, because Turkey is a key ally and Israel is a valuable partner
for the alliance."
Turkey has become increasingly outspoken in support of the Palestinians
and in its animosity toward Israel, once an important ally.
Rasmussen emphasized that Nato, as an alliance that works by consensus,
would not become involved in bilateral matters or the domestic politics
of member countries.
Asked about Turkey's warning that it might send military ships toward
Cyprus, which is exploring for natural gas in the Mediterranean, as
is Israel, Rasmussen said that "Nato as an organization is not going
to interfere with these disputes," while adding, "I do not envisage
armed conflict in the eastern part of the Mediterranean."
Relations with Turkey have to be managed carefully as it asserts a
growing role on the global stage, he suggested.
"I think Turkey can play a stabilizing role in the region and serve
as a role model for countries in the region that are currently
transforming from dictatorship into democracy," he said.
From: A. Papazian