Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Nov 14 2009

US follows Ergenekon trial, backs democratization process

A senior US official said on Thursday that the United States is
closely monitoring developments in the Ergenekon case, an
investigation into factions in the military that allegedly conspired
with others in the bureaucracy and judiciary to topple a
democratically elected government by creating havoc in the country.

Philip Gordon, the assistant secretary of state for Europe and
Eurasian affairs, told reporters that the Obama administration is
`very interested in things that dominate the headlines in Turkey.’
Though he declined to comment on the specifics of the case, saying
that `when you have judicial and internal political developments, they
are not for us [to comment on],’ Gordon said, `We watch it closely
because it has an impact on one of our key partners.’
Commenting on the Turkish government’s democratization initiative to
solve a long-standing Kurdish problem in the country, Gordon said the
US administration supports the process. `We believe it will increase
internal stability,’ he said. `It [the initiative] does seem to be an
opportunity to not only fully integrate all of Turkey’s citizens but
to get beyond the conflict that has been devastating Turkey for many
years. ¦ Obviously that is something the US supports.’

Gordon acknowledged that the issue is very controversial in Turkey
and said the US steers clear of interference because the issue is an
internal matter. `It is for Turks to decide,’ he said. `We are not
influencing it [the process].’ He also dismissed conspiracy theories
that the initiative is in fact a US plan and the Turkish government is
simply implementing what Washington dictates. `In general, the role of
the US is often exaggerated. I wish we were as influential as people
tried to portray us,’ he said.

`Turkey not changing axis’

The US assistant secretary of state also dismissed rumors that Turkey
is moving away from the West. `I think talk of a change of axis is a
very significant exaggeration of what is going on in Turkey,’ he said.
`We are neither surprised nor worried about Turkey’s engagement in the
East.’

Gordon said Turkey has legitimate reasons for engaging with neighbors
in the East. `Turkey remains a country with strong and close ties with
the West; it’s certainly a close partner to us,’ he added.

During his first official visit to Turkey since he was confirmed by
the US Senate, Gordon has discussed a range of issues with Turkish
officials in Ankara. He listed those issues as Afghanistan, the
Iranian nuclear program, Iraq, Middle East peace, Cyprus,
normalization with Armenia and energy. `The prime minister and
president’s agenda will bear all of these critical issues I mention
and some more,’ he said, signaling that he was in Ankara for advanced
consultations ahead of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an’s
upcoming visit to Washington in early December.

Gordon said the US would welcome Turkey’s support in getting
low-enriched uranium from Iran. `If Iran is prepared to send it to
Turkey, that is something we would be happy to explore because what
matters to us is to get the low-enriched uranium out of Iran so that
Iran would not have the opportunity to use it for a nuclear weapons
program. Turkey would be a secure place, we believe, and we welcome
Turkish support,’ he added.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the director-general of the Vienna-based
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he officially proposed
Turkey as a third-country destination after Iran failed to agree to a
Western plan for its enriched uranium to be sent to Russia for further
enrichment to reactor-grade fuel. Tehran has yet to give a full
official reply to the proposal, which was drafted three weeks ago
after consultations with Iran, France, Russia and the US.

Gordon acknowledged that the US and Turkey do not see eye-to-eye when
it comes to dealing with Iran. `On Iran, we do believe it is time for
the international community to be sticking to one voice,’ he said.
`That is why we have open dialogue with our Turkish friends.’ He noted
that the Iranian problem requires international cooperation, and said,
`We believe that Turkey shares our concerns about the Iranian nuclear
weapons program.’

The US diplomat remarked that Iran needs to provide reassurances to
the international community to allay concerns over its suspected
nuclear weapons program and warned that engagement and dialogue can’t
go on forever and there will be consequences if Iran does not
cooperate. He declined to specify, however, what those consequences
will be. There are some measures already in place against Iran as
adopted by the UN Security Council resolutions. `Further ones we have
not spelled out in detail because we do not want go there. We want the
engagement to work, and we want to succeed in dialogue,’ Gordon said.

He called the signing of protocols between Turkey and Armenia a
historic process that will benefit both sides immensely. He dismissed
the linking of ratification in the Turkish Parliament to the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. `We think that
normalization is important. It should not be linked to anything else,’
he said, stressing, however, that the US is working hard to solve the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue and is actively engaged in bringing about
reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

14 November 2009, Saturday
ABDULLAH BOZKURT ANKARA