ID :
177588
Sun, 04/24/2011 - 15:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/177588
The shortlink copeid
Turkey: Ties with Iran Highly Important in Talks over Deployment of NATO Missile Shield
TEHRAN , April 24 (FNA)- Turkish Ambassador to Tehran Umit Yardim reiterated on Sunday that his country is sensitive to the concerns of its eastern neighbor and has its relations with Iran in mind when attending talks with the western powers over the deployment of the NATO missile shield in the country.
"In all the different political trends when we evaluate a process, we certain consider our relations with Iran and look at that given issue or trend through that perspective," Yardim told FNA responding to a question on the necessity for the deployment of the NATO missile defense system in Turkey.
He called deployment of NATO missile shield in Turkey as a technical issue, and said Ankara raised its view over this issue in the Lisbon meeting very clearly, and of course the most important issue for Turkey is its relations with Iran.
"In any process and in any place and time, the most important issue is the ties with Iran and this is Turkey's main and prime position," Yardim reiterated.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, was the subject of discussions over a potential NATO missile defense system originally proposed by the United States during the Bush administration. It is unclear whether Turkey will actively participate in the proposed system believed to be directed against Iran.
In previous statements, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had laid down Turkish principles saying that Turkey was at the center of NATO; NATO should take into account "indivisible security," meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every member state's security; and Turkey does not perceive any threat in its neighborhood and does not plan to be a frontier country as it was during the Cold War era.
The United States has often portrayed the missile defense system as a safeguard against a possible ballistic strike from Iran. At the time of the discussions about the strategic concept, Ankara was concerned that such a perception could damage its growing relationship with its neighbor.
To Turkey's favor, NATO's new strategic concept eventually avoided identifying any specific neighboring country. But it is still unclear if Turkey will allow the deployment of such a system in its soil and who will be in the command of this system.
"In all the different political trends when we evaluate a process, we certain consider our relations with Iran and look at that given issue or trend through that perspective," Yardim told FNA responding to a question on the necessity for the deployment of the NATO missile defense system in Turkey.
He called deployment of NATO missile shield in Turkey as a technical issue, and said Ankara raised its view over this issue in the Lisbon meeting very clearly, and of course the most important issue for Turkey is its relations with Iran.
"In any process and in any place and time, the most important issue is the ties with Iran and this is Turkey's main and prime position," Yardim reiterated.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, was the subject of discussions over a potential NATO missile defense system originally proposed by the United States during the Bush administration. It is unclear whether Turkey will actively participate in the proposed system believed to be directed against Iran.
In previous statements, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had laid down Turkish principles saying that Turkey was at the center of NATO; NATO should take into account "indivisible security," meaning that the alliance should preserve each and every member state's security; and Turkey does not perceive any threat in its neighborhood and does not plan to be a frontier country as it was during the Cold War era.
The United States has often portrayed the missile defense system as a safeguard against a possible ballistic strike from Iran. At the time of the discussions about the strategic concept, Ankara was concerned that such a perception could damage its growing relationship with its neighbor.
To Turkey's favor, NATO's new strategic concept eventually avoided identifying any specific neighboring country. But it is still unclear if Turkey will allow the deployment of such a system in its soil and who will be in the command of this system.
