U.S. to Turkey: Restore Israel ties to play key Mideast role
Turkish premier meets Obama to discuss tensions between NATO allies over peace process, Iran.
By Reuters and Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Middle East peace Israel news Iran nuclearTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with United States President Barack Obama in the White House on Monday to discuss the recent tensions between the two countries based on disagreements regarding their different outlooks on Middle East policies.
Obama said on Monday he believed Turkey could be an "important player" in moving Iran toward resolving disputes over its nuclear program.
Obama made the remarks to journalists after meeting with Erdogan at the White House.
A senior administration official said following the meeting with the Turkish premier that Ankara has been critical of Israel recently, but it is important that such a "key Middle East player, a predominantly Muslim country, have a strategic partnership with Israel, which they still do."
Tensions flared between the two countries in September after Turkey banned Israel from participating in a NATO air force drill. Ankara further strained relations last week when it refused to take off the air a television drama depicting Israeli soldiers killing Palestinian children.
The official said regarding the recent deterioration of the Israeli and Turkish relations that "to the extent that they return to the kind of relationship that they have previously had, which has been a very strong and cooperative relationship, they will be able to serve in the role that they seek to play in the region."
He added that if the countries do not "retain those ties, it's going to be harder for them to lead in the way they would like to lead."
Turkey has also recently argued against the U.S. proposed sanctions against Iran, saying that the country is not developing nuclear weapons, and that the countries which have demanded of Iran to dismantle its nuclear plant, should themselves give up their own nuclear programs.
Erdogan also referred to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as "a friend."
The U.S. official said following their meeting that they have a problem with Turkey reaching out to Iran "and they can only play that potential role, useful role, if their message is consistent with that of the rest of the international community and ours, which is that we want to engage Iran."
Turkey has also denied a U.S. request to transfer more Turkish troops to Afghanistan, were they already have 1750 soldiers stationed.
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Turkish PM Erdogan, left, listening to President Obama in the Oval Office on Monday. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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You all realize this is over pipelines and has nothing to do with Nuclear weapons as Iran has noon nor the capability of making them for many years to come. Iran is also not breaking any laws but the US and Israel are by not allowing inspectors in. Iran has had over 25 inspection the US and Israel none. If you don't knoiw about the pipelines you should before starting another needless war.
But if that is what Turkey wants to do, a critic of Israel, whether Turkey is right or wrong, it cannot play the role of mediator or arbitrator. Those roles can only be discharged well and responsibly if the opinion of the mediator or abitrator is kept secret and if the the conduct of the mediator or arbitrator is purely professional and uninformed by its personal opinion. Given Turkey's stance, I find difficult to believe that it can do a credible job as a facilitator between Syria and Israel. Perhaps Israel's view is that she can look after her own interests in any meditation and arbitration and, hence, Turkey's views and conduct is irrelevant. The problem, as I see it, is demonstrated by Egypt's role in the Shalit mediation. When your mediator bad mouth's you in public, there is a cost in the form of negative international perception. Hopefully, Israel can get an undertaking that Turkey, whatever its views are, will discharge its role in good faith & without comment.
The Armenian Weekly published a chapter from Rifat Bali's book "A Scapegoat for All Seasons: the Doenmes or Crypto Jews of Turkey." They both may be interesting reading for anyone interested; I was surprised by what I read (that antisemitism is more widespread in Turkey than I thought, and regrettably). I have no doubt in my mind that Turkey should keep its ties with the USA and Israel. I also read an article from a Turkish psychiatrist which says the democracy move in Turkey may only be for purposes of transporting the oil; that a real reconciliation, a real democracy between i.e. Armenia/Turkey would take a little intervention from a psychiatrist. Probably what is going on in Turkey has more to do with the oil.
you can't play both ways
We don't need Turkey in NATO and we don't need them in EU. But please feel free to make them the 51st state of the USA.