U.S.: Turkey must back Iran nuclear sanctions
State Deptartment: Many would be disappointed if Turkey is an exception to a consensus on Iran.
By Reuters Tags: Turkey Iran sanctions Israel news Iran nuclearThe United States urged Turkey on Wednesday to support more sanctions against Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, saying Ankara could face consequences if it moves out of step with the international community.
Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon, the State Department's top diplomat for Europe, said U.S.-Turkey relations were strong despite a row over a resolution by U.S. lawmakers branding the 1915-era killings of Armenians by Turkish forces as "genocide."
But he said Turkey, a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council that has been leery of the U.S.-led push to further punish Iran, must show it is "on board" with the move toward new sanctions.
"Many would be disappointed if Turkey is an exception to an international consensus on dealing with Iran," he told a news briefing before a speech on U.S. relations with Turkey, a fellow NATO member and pivotal regional ally to Washington.
"Turkey wants to be an important, responsible actor on the international scene. And I think joining the majority of the Security Council in doing this would reinforce that image," Gordon said.
"Not doing so would not contribute to that positive outcome ... I think that's a consequence."
The United States and other Western powers are seeking support new U.N. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, which they fear is a cover for developing atomic weapons.
But China, a permanent, veto-wielding member of the Security Council, along with non-permanent members Turkey and Brazil, have urged more time for diplomacy with Iran, which insists its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes.
Damage Control
Amid the Iran push, U.S. officials are trying to control the damage after a House of Representatives committee vote this month on the non-binding "genocide" resolution over the 1915 killings, a move which infuriated Turkey.
The House vote appeared to jeopardize halting progress by Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations, one key to stability in the south Caucasus, a region crisscrossed by oil and gas pipelines to Europe.
Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Washington and has said he will not return until Ankara gets assurances about the fate of the resolution, which the Obama administration opposed.
Gordon repeated the White House's hope that the resolution would not move forward in Congress but denied there was any deal with Democratic lawmakers to kill the bill outright.
"There's no deal. The Congress is an independent body and they're going to do what they decide to do," he said.
But Gordon called on Ankara to return the ambassador anyway, saying the breadth of the bilateral relationship -- which includes cooperation on Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and the Middle East -- was too important to link to any one issue.
"We would like to see the ambassador here. We think he should be here, making Turkey's case," Gordon said.
He said the relationship was a two-way street and noted that Washington was a strong supporter of Turkey's bid to join the European Union, one of Ankara's chief goals.
"On nearly every issue that is critical to Turkey's future, the United States plays an enormously important role as a trusted friend and ally," Gordon said. The relationship, he added, "requires hard work and attention -- on both sides."
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who rules who? does the u.s. rule israel or does israel rule the u.s.? both think they have the right to rule the entire world. every country can say so. both have insulted the united nations many times, although they are members of it and have to follow the u.n. rules. they have signed the u.n. treaty voluntarily. every country which is a member has to play by the rules. the u.n.has to become a sovereign, international/supranational arbiter, who can impose sanctions to those who infringe the rules, no matter who/what country.
international community, it will have to oppose the US plan to punish Iran for daring to expect both sides of the NNPT rules to be obeyed. There is a reason that the US, despite the overrepresentation that the US and its closest friends were given on the UNSC to keep the US from bailing on it, hasn't tried to get sanctions passed by the UNSC, and it isn't the Chinese veto. It doesn't have the 9 yes votes, and knows it.
Turkey didn't settle for less than a response appropriate to the insult. Obama caved after starting to stand up. I can't see Turkey taking Obama or the USA serious now.
The 108-nation Non-Aligned Nations (NAM) group just supported Iran's right to its peaceful nuclear program. There are only 4 to 5 of Iran's enemies who oppose Iran's legal and open nuclear program. They are the US, UK, Frnce Germany and ISRAEL. THAT'S IT! How can the US demand anything from Turkey when it can't even get Israel to stop building and exanding the illegal colonies?!!!
tukey cannot argue with america hey? yes they can, they can be part of europe but don't have to bow to america, and now that you have fired the first shot against turkey with the armenian genocide vote, how do you think it will go down with many others, why did this happen? because israel killed innocents, then turkey stuck up for them, then israel humiliated the turkish diplomat, then turkey spoke up, so to punish them, israel (USrael) decied to show them and pass the vote on the armenians. problem is idiot, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't force it to drink.
wow, so america fires the first shot then blames turkey for problems, and now america threatens turkey to do what it wants or face serious consequences, and then you wonder why one by one america is having more people who hate them, astounding, really astounding, but then again, nahh, america is run by zionists.
The fact that the religious right controls the current administration in Turkey does not signify a 20 year shift in ideology amongst the Turkish people. No more so than Israel's FM saying that all Arabs should be killed is representative of Israeli popular opinion. These are all transient developments that will subside when more level headed people/level headed decisions are made between these countries. The Islamic Axis is not very strategically appealing, even the Chinese are preparing the ground to jump ship and abstain from voting on Iran sanctions. Turkey's leaders will be made to understand that its national interests lie with the EU and the US rather than opposing the plurality of the international community.
I suppose, the price for doing so is a full EU membership for the Turkeys. And Barack "The One" Obama will happily squeeze the Europeans to fulfill this demand. What a loser.
Turkey will be dreaming if they think they will be in the EU. Failure to apologise for it's atrocities, killing Kurds, the genocide, it's occupation of Cyprus, it thinks Europe will want 70 million more moslems, and border Europe with Iraq?
Once again, "political realities" will deny justice as the farce of Iran sanctions plays on and on. Once the Genocide resolution is defeated-the Turks will still refuse to endorse sanctions against Iran- getting everything they want. Unlike the clueless Obama/Clinton, these Turks are very clever people even managing to use you(another victimized people) as a "human shield" to protect them from accountability for their crimes.
Pro-American islamist may sound like a contradictory term but this is what we have in Turkey. Tayyip Erdogan wanted to let the Americans pass through Turkey to invade Iraq, the permission was voted agains in the parliament with the effort of the social democrat CHP. The main enemy of the Turkish secular state, Fettullah Gulen resides in US and is helped by the US intelligence. So the same US now wants Turkey to be against Iran. With Iran we are neither friend nor enemy and it should be kepth this way. PM Tayyip Erdogan is a true islamic radical at heart and secretly he admires the Iranian mullahs but you will see that this time he will pretend to be against iranian nuke program. Because of the American-led anti-communist conservative right since seventies that we are now suffering under islamists in Turkey, America is also conspiring against the Turkish army, corrupting it. So Americans are the last people we should listen to. Without Americans this world would be a much better place.
I was one of the few "half breeds"to visit turkey,and i can tell you they will not back the US,and they do not appreciate Israel having nukes,so America can dream on,they are not dealing with Geronimo over their.Maybe Kissinger can slur out some words of wisdom about Vietnam lol.
With your logic then Turkey would have supported the US in its invasion of Iraq - remember that it did not allow the US to use its base in the north?
expect much help from Turkey, Russia or China for that matter.
and Syria should break off ties with Iran... and Hezbollah should give their weapons to the Lebanese Army... any more pipe dreams I missed?
Silly bureaucrats in the State Department. You do not threaten modern day Turkey. Turkey is a sovereign state. They like to be cozy with Tehran. They are in fact more terrified of Iran, than the US realizes. Its far easier to bully Israel. Then again, neither Israel or Turkey give a hoot. That just shows how far the current US State Department under Ms.Clinton has achieved "Top Diplomacy".! Turkey has withdrawn their Ambassador..? We all know that the watered down sanctions are nothing more than an ego trip. It will never work. Israeli tourists are flocking to Turkey..Bravo. G·night.
Turkey will do what's best for Turkey. For hundreds of years Turkey ruled over Arab Moslems with a heavy hand they didn't care about their co religionists then and they don't care now. Turkey might not like the boycott on Iran, but it will join in. Turkey canot argue with US or Europe which it needs for its economic and political survival. Turkey has been fighting against Kurdish rebels who want indipendence for over a century, Turkey may find those rebels armed with much better weapons if Turkey goes against US and Nato wishes, also the Armenian genocide might come to haunt Turkey, so Turkey will tow the line or suffer.
Turkey's new leadership is more aligned with the sentiments of Muslims on the ground and Iran in particular than the US or Israel's interests in the region. Turkey is far more Muslim today than it was 20 years ago - this is why it did not let the US use its bases to invade Iraq from the north.
won't support sanctions neither will Russia or China. Face the facts Obama and do what you can. But you better hurry up and get something done soon. The clock is ticking.
It is also a very valuable U.S. ally. Even between married couples there are disagreements. Take Israel as a great example. Sheesh, what a problematic ally(?). No further sanctions are needed. Iran is completely legal and within its rights. Turkey knows this. It isn't obligated to be in lockstep with the zionists. Salaam/Shalom
Turkey is asking the world that Middle East must be free of nuclear weapons. What does the US wants more.
Turkey will not back sanctions.They are with Iran and the Muslim world
Isn't the one that is wrong.