Azerbaijan, Baku, 8 May / Trend corr A. Gasimova, R. Hafizoglu/ The USA and Iran are unlikely to agree to Turkey's mediation between Teheran and Washington.
"It does not seem like Turkey may undertake mediating between Iran and USA. Ankara has no leverage on Teheran," Roman Joch, Director of Prague-based Civic Institute, said.
"Senator Barack Obama, US presidential candidate from Democrats, said to NBC that the country should negotiate and maintain relations with South-Eastern region's countries, in particular with Turkey, due to Iran's nuclear program," Turkish news agency Dunya Bulteni reported on 6 May.
Joch does not see any logic in Obama's statement. "I have no idea where and why had Barack Hussein Obama got the idea that Turkey could - and should - serve as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran. First of all, why would Iran accept Turkish mediating role, when Iran could deal with the U.S. directly anytime it wished? Secondly, why would Turkey accept such a position? What leverage has Turkey on both the U.S. and Iran? None. Why should Iranians trust Turks, and vice versa? Why should Americans trust incumbent Turkish government of Prime Minister Erdogan, when he had refused cooperation with the U.S. in 2003 in Iraq?" Joch said by e-mail to Trend .
The relations between the U.S. and Iran need no moderator. They need a straight thinking on both sides. The best explanation for Barack Obama's suggestion could perhaps be his campaign fatigue."
However, Turkish expert Ozcan Tikit believes that Ankara may become Washington's mediator in the South-Eastern region through Turkey's close cooperation with Iran. Tikit said via e-mail that so far Turkey often achieved real results in mediation for the problems White House faced.
According to expert, the Ankara's refusal to introduce its air space and borders to U.S. in a war with Iraq strengthened the influence of Turkey among the Islamic countries. The U.S. wishes to normalize its relations with Iran with which it has been in protracted enmity since the late 1970s. The destabilization of relations with Iran can pose a threat for several strategic targets and 'attainments' in Iraq, Tikit said.
" Turkey, a country with a majority of population being Sunnite Muslims, is a country closely related with Iran," expert said.
According to Tikit, other Sunnite state is less likely to mediate between U.S. and Iran.
"On its part, Turkey is interested in establishing dialogue between U.S. and Iran. Therefore, problems can emerge as a result of the next conflict in the neighbouring country which can lead to hunger and poverty as in case of war in Iraq in 2003," Tikit said.
According to political expert, the official Ankara will do its best to stimulate the talks between Washington and Tehran, but whether these talks will be useful, depends on U.S. and Iran.
We contacted the Foreign Ministry of Turkey and Iran, but both of the Ministries refused to comment on the issue.
Turkey has been mediating in talks between president of the Palestinian Administration Mahmoud Abbas and president of Israel Shimon Peres since 2003. In 2007, Turkey acted as a mediator in the territorial dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and between Syria and Israel since 2008 for return of Golan Heights.
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