Global Geopolitics Net Sites / IDN
BY FAREED MAHDY*
ISTANBUL (IDN) – No wonder that Middle East events always run at high speed, being as it is the most conflictive region on Earth — in just few days, a “Turkish” solution to Iranian nuclear stand has appeared on the horizon. U.S. and Russia are pressing Tehran to accept as “time is running out”.
The story developed quickly over the last seven days which have witnessed intensive diplomatic contacts between Ankara, Tehran, Washington, Moscow, Paris and the UN, leading to a possible way out to Iranian nuclear file — that Turkey stores Iranian low-enriched uranium to be sent to Russia for higher enrichment and delivery to Tehran for peaceful use.
The deal seems to be ready, only pending final confirmation from Tehran according to all indications.
Iran has been showing reluctance to any kind of Western control of its nuclear programme, emphasising that it is aimed at peaceful purposes only, and not to producing nuclear weapons as claimed by Western powers.
Nevertheless, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Nov 8 that he proposes Turkey as a third-country destination.
Ankara announced its readiness to accept the deal. In fact, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Burak Özügergin said on Nov 12 that ElBaradei had talked on this issue with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
He added that Davutoglu reported on these talks during a meeting between President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, which took place in Istanbul on the occasion of the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit on Nov 8.
ElBaradei and Davutoglu had a comprehensive exchange of views, according to Ozugergin, who stressed that the IAEA chief explained "some technical details" in his phone conversation with Turkish Foreign minister Davutoglu.
Davutoglu confirmed ElBaradei’s proposal to send Iranian low-enriched uranium to Turkey was discussed with Ahmadinejad and Mottaki. “We are in a very constructive position with both the IAEA and Iran,” he commented.
EVERYBODY, HAPPY
Ankara’s readiness to contribute to solving the nuclear stand between Western powers and Iran was further confirmed on Nov 13 by Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz. "There is no problem from the side of Turkey with Iran storing its low-grade uranium in Turkey,” Yildiz told reporters.
The U.S. reacted positively to IAEA proposal to send its uranium to Turkey.
“We support the proposal as the IAEA has presented it,” State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly told reporters.
"We are still waiting for a formal reply to it. And of course, we hope that Iran will make the right choice and accept the proposal,” he said.
However, the State Department spokesperson added: “We will consult on next steps if Iran ultimately decides to not take this opportunity."
Russian Foreign Ministry announced Moscow’s support for El Baradei’s proposal.
U.S., RUSSIA PRESSING ON IRAN
But big powers seem to be impatient. In fact, in an apparent new pressure on Tehran to accept the IAEA proposal, U.S. President Barack Obama said in Singapore on Nov 15 that “time was running out” for diplomatic efforts to solve Iran’s nuclear stand.
"Unfortunately, so far at least, Iran appears to have been unable to say yes to what everyone acknowledges is a creative and constructive approach," Obama said.
The U.S. president made this statement after meeting his Russian colleague Dmitry Medvedev in Singapore on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific summit.
Medvedev backed indirectly Obama’s position, saying that “there are other means" that could be used if current talks with Iran did not give results.
THE TURKISH POWER
Anyway, these intensive diplomatic moves clearly walk in the new direction that Turkish diplomacy has decided to follow.
In fact, in barely one month, October, Ankara sealed a high number of strategic cooperation deals with three major players on the Middle East stage — Syria, Iraq and Iran.
These cooperation deals include a large variety of issues, ranging from trade to energy, passing through defence and mutual political support in international fora.
The four countries would appear as forming a new Middle East “axis” as opposed to the “evil” one mounted by former White House occupants.
With its immediate acceptance of the IAEA proposal, Ankara, which has been taking the lead, continues with its political shift towards the Middle East as a consequence of its growing frustration with a European Union that refuses to have it as a full member. (IDN-InDepthNews/15.11.2009)
*Fareed Mahdy is special correspondent of IDN-InDepthNews Service
Copyright © 2009 IDN-InDepthNews Service
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