ON SECURITY COUNCIL, TURKEY VOTES AGAINST NEW UN SANCIONS ON IRAN
The UN Security Council yesterday passed a resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran`s nuclear program. The resolution, which was negotiated for five months among the council`s five permanent members, last month was presented to the 10 nonpermanent members of the council, including Turkey. The resolution passed 12-2, with one abstention from Lebanon, and Brazil and Turkey casting the dissenting votes. After brokering a deal on enriched uranium for Iran last month, both Brazil and Turkey forcefully argued that no new sanctions are necessary. /Aksam/
PM ERDOGAN: "KEEPING SILENT ABOUT ISRAELI RAID WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE ATTACKS"
Speaking at the opening of a meeting on Millennium Development Goals for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held by United Nations Development Program which started in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the international community about the potential harm of turning a blind eye to the illegality of last week`s Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid convoy in the eastern Mediterranean that led to the deaths of nine Turkish peace activists, warning that doing so would promote the repetition of such tragedies. Calling the Israeli raid a grave violation of international law, Erdgoan called on the international community not to remain silent, saying that further such violations would damage humanity`s sensitivity to justice and sow mistrust among international organizations. "If we`re talking about global peace and if we`re sincerely aware that we have to find solutions to global problems together, then we have to take a humanitarian stance against these kinds of unlawful incidents -- a just, determined and courageous stance," he said. "Those who remain silent, who remain indifferent and turn a deaf ear will not only be partner to these massacres, but will also legitimize new attacks in the future and will be lending support to such attacks." In related news, in a TV interview yesterday, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "If Israel doesn`t agree to the establishment of an international committee to look into its raid on the flotilla, there will be sanctions by Turkey to isolate Israel." He added, "We will isolate Israel at every platform." Stating that Turkey would keep working to end the Israeli blockade of Gaza, Davutoglu said they want a UN resolution on the issue and to raise it on other international platforms. /Sabah/
AFTER VOTING AGAINST NEW SANCTIONS, TURKEY STILL BELIEVES DIPLOMACY ONLY WAY OUT OF NUCLEAR ROW
Despite a nuclear fuel swap deal that Turkey and Brazil brokered with Iran last month to address concerns that Tehran may be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons, thus avoiding the need for new sanctions, the UN Security Council yesterday approved a resolution for new sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program, which Iran claims is peaceful in nature. The resolution passed 12-2, with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey, both non-permanent members of the council, voting against the measure. Speaking at a UN meeting in Istanbul yesterday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for the international community to take a fair stance by focusing not just on Iran, but also other regional countries that have a nuclear arsenal, alluding to Israel. Referring to last week`s Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, which left nine Turks dead, Erdogan said, "All countries of the world must know that the crimes they commit and rules they violate will not be go unanswered. A fair stance must be taken against these states." Reiterating that Turkey doesn`t want nuclear weapons in its region, Erdogan spoke about the uranium swap deal, saying, "Turkey and Brazil achieved a diplomatic victory for the sake of regional and global peace. The international community, showing a proper sensitivity to Iran`s having nuclear weapons, must treat other regional countries with nuclear weapons the same." In related news, commenting on the new UN resolution, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey tried to protect the nuclear swap deal by voting against the sanctions, adding, "Many countries, including those which voted in favor of the UN resolution, consider the Tehran agreement signed by Turkey and Brazil a great achievement." Asked whether the agreement still exists in the wake of the vote, Davutoglu said, "We ensured the validity of the Tehran agreement by voting against the UN resolution today." He added, "As of tomorrow morning, we will intensify our diplomatic efforts. There are two options: Leaders could consider sitting at the negotiating table with Iran to resolve the issue through diplomacy and implementing the Tehran agreement; and Iran could join the negotiation process. If these two processes work together, the new resolution could be invalidated ... (But) if all those efforts are ignored, working for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East will be made impossible. Today`s decision was made without taking into consideration all the regional impact." Davutoglu also said Turkey's policy on this issue is in line with US President Barack Osama`s engagement policy. A Prime Ministry statement said Turkey believes that a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue is still possible despite the new sanctions and will continue its efforts to this end, which is why Turkey stood behind the swap deal by voting against the resolution. In another statement, the Foreign Ministry said keeping dialogue between the related parties alive and using diplomatic means to this end is the only way out of the issue. /Hurriyet/
ERDOGAN HAS PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH OBAMA, PUTIN, OTHER LEADERS OVER UN SANCTIONS VOTE
Before yesterday`s critical UN Security Council vote on a french round of sanctions against Iran`s nuclear program, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the issue with US President Barack Obama, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. In related news, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu continued his contacts both with Western countries and Iran until the last moment. Davutoglu continued conveying to Western countries Turkey`s stance and concerns over the sanctions and at the same time advised them not to miss the opportunity created by the uranium swap deal. He also advised Iran not to leave negotiating table. /Aksam/
TURKEY, THAILAND TO SIGN TWO COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday said that Turkey and Thailand are set to sign two bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries. Piromya, in Istanbul for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), said that a military cooperation agreement and an action plan to enhance cooperation in other areas, including education, science and culture, would be signed in the next few months. He also said that he will visit his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu in the next few months, adding that Thailand would appreciate political consultation with Turkey. /Today`s Zaman/