US follows Ergenekon trial, backs democratization process

 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 Erdoğan’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.