‘IRAN IS TURKEY’S "ONLY GATEWAY" TO CENTRAL ASIA’

news.az
April 15 2010
Azerbaijan

Ahmet Davutoglu Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday
Turkey had not yet been informed about the sanctions package against
Iran.

Speaking at a think tank organization in Washington, D.C., Davutoglu
said that "a country thousands of kilometers away, and I am not
necessarily referring to the United States, can take a decision on
possible sanctions. However, as a neighboring country with great
interests and connections, we have serious concerns on the matter".

Asked about Iran’s nuclear program, Davutoglu said that he believed
a diplomatic solution could be possible.

Though US President Barack Obama is working on sanctions, the
door for diplomacy is still open. Turkey is the only country in
the United Nations Security Council that is a neighbor of Iran. A
country thousands of kilometers away from Iran can take a decision in
favor of sanctions. Nonetheless, as a country neighboring Iran and
that has great interests, we are deeply concerned with this matter,
Davutoglu said.

Iran is Turkey’s second biggest supplier of natural gas. Turkey does
not want to be dependent on Russia for natural gas. Iran is Turkey’s
"only gateway" to Central Asia, Davutoglu said.

In regard to a question on Turkey-Armenia relations, Davutoglu
underlined that he believed the normalization process between Turkey
and Armenia would reach a successful point.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress