December 8, 2009

Source:

Turkish Prime Minister said he is willing to serve as a diplomatic channel to the Iranian leadership after President pressed him yesterday for more support to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

Obama said he told Erdogan during a White House meeting “how important it is to resolve the issue of Iran’s nuclear capacity in a way that allows Iran to pursue peaceful nuclear energy but provides assurances that it will abide by international rules and norms.”

“I believe that Turkey can be an important player in trying to move Iran in that direction,” Obama said.

Erdogan’s visit to Washington — eight months after he hosted Obama in Ankara — came as Turkey seeks to play a more prominent role in its region, trying to broker a resumption of Israeli-Syrian peace talks and improving ties with neighboring Iran.

The Erdogan government has been expanding trade with Iran, which supplies about 20 percent of Turkey’s natural gas. He visited Tehran in October and said that Iran’s nuclear program, which the U.S. suspects is a cover for weapons development, is “peaceful.”

“We as Turkey stand ready to do whatever we can to ensure a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue in our region,” Erdogan said yesterday, adding that the Turkish government was prepared to act as a mediator.

‘Time to Make Friends’

Turkey, along with the U.S., must try to “achieve global peace, because this is not the time to make enemies, this is the time to make friends,” Erdogan said.

At a press conference after the Obama meeting, Erdogan expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of sanctions on Iran, saying existing restrictions are being undermined.

An administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. wanted clarification on the Turkish position after Erdogan praised what he called Iran’s positive approach to nuclear talks with the U.S. that collapsed after their Oct. 1 start.

Obama has said he will give Iran until the end of the year to prove its nuclear work is for peaceful purposes or will seek new, multinational sanctions to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

newspaper reported before the White House meeting that Erdogan said he would ask Obama to give more time for talks with Iran before seeking sanctions at the UN Security Council, where Turkey currently holds a seat. Turkey’s offer last month to store Iran’s uranium can help end the crisis, Erdogan told reporters on his plane to Washington, the newspaper said.

Security Council

If there were a Security Council vote on Iran sanctions, Turkey might abstain, , a former Turkish foreign minister, said in a telephone interview. “If China and Russia go along with the U.S. and vote for more sanctions then it could put us in an awkward position,” he said.

In their meeting, Erdogan and Obama also discussed Turkey’s troop commitment to Afghanistan, its role in northern Iraq, the establishment of relations with Armenia, and improving the economic relationship between the two countries.

Obama thanked Erdogan for Turkish contributions toward “stabilizing Afghanistan.” The Turkish leader told reporters later that his country could train 12 Afghan army battalions a year and would step up economic development aid.

Turkish troops serve in non-combat roles as part of the force in Afghanistan, and Erdogan signaled that approach would continue. Obama earlier this month ordered another 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan and has asked allies to increase their contributions.

Iraq Transition

Erdogan pointed to the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq in 2011 as an important moment for next-door Turkey. The Turkish leader wants the U.S. to put more pressure on the Kurdish administration in the northern region of Iraq to prevent the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, from attacking Turkish targets.

Obama said yesterday that he has “reaffirmed since I came into office that the United States considers PKK a terrorist organization.” The U.S. is sharing intelligence with Turkey to fight the threat.

Seven Turkish soldiers were killed yesterday in a clash with unidentified militants in the country’s Tokat province, prompting Erdogan to vow that the perpetrators would be dealt with severely once found.

On the economic front, Obama said his administration is launching a “strategic working group around economic issues and improving commercial ties” between the U.S. and Turkey. The group will be led by Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative .

“We think that there is enormous potential for us to grow trade and commercial” connections, Obama said.

Public opinion in Turkey is turning more favorable toward the U.S., reflecting an “Obama bounce,” said Ahmet Evin, a Turkish foreign policy expert at the Washington-based . The fading of the Iraq War, a major irritant in relations during presidency, is also improving the public mood in Turkey, he said.

To contact the reporters on this story: in Washington at ; in Istanbul at