Clinton says Turkey opposes Iran’s aggressive policies

Testifying before congressional committees in the House of Representatives on Thursday and in the Senate on Wednesday to urge the approval of the State Department’s proposed $52.8 billion budget for the 2011 fiscal year, Clinton responded to Steve Israel, a Democrat congressman from New York, who said that he was concerned about where Turkey is going because it was weakening international efforts to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, defending Tehran’s position and acting irresponsibly.

Clinton mentioned Turkey’s contributions in Kosovo, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and said the US administration had worked very hard to persuade the Turkish government to pressure Iran, which is expected to respond to the demands of the United States soon.

She also told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that President Barack Obama had offered Iranian leaders “the opportunity to engage in a serious way” and described it as “a necessary and important step” that was taken despite some domestic political criticism. However, Iran has failed to respond “in a serious manner,” and since the initial US offer of engagement has unveiled a new nuclear facility at Qom and decided to attempt uranium enrichment to a higher percentage. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Feb. 18 report said Iran may be trying to design a nuclear-armed missile.

Israel also told Clinton that he was concerned about Turkey’s strained relations with Israel, the Cyprus problem and Turkey’s “illegal occupation” and Turkey’s stance regarding the mass killings in Darfur. In response, Clinton said the Turkish government has been critical of the country of Israel for humanitarian reasons because of Israel’s Gaza offensive. The congressman asked Clinton if the United States would review its relations with Turkey in light of Turkey’s review of its relations with the United States and the rest of the world.

Clinton stated that as NATO countries, Turkey and the United States work together in areas from the Balkans to Afghanistan and share an important partnership and mutual strategic interests. Pointing out that Turkey has been engaged in an assertive foreign policy in an effort to solve its problems with Armenia, she said Turkey’s contributions in Afghanistan are of key importance. Turkey has 1,755 troops serving with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Turkey is also involved in training Afghan security forces both in Turkey and in Afghanistan.

Israel also questioned Turkey’s attitude toward Christians living in the country. He accused Turkey of being intolerant and said that it confiscated minorities’ property.

Clinton pointed out that the US administration has called on Turkey to reopen the Greek Orthodox seminary on Heybeliada, closed in 1971, and protect the property rights of its minorities. The issue has been brought up by US officials several times before, lastly during the visit of İstanbul-based Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew to the White House to meet with US President Obama.

Clinton also said they are interested in finding a solution to Cyprus and encourage Turkey to work for a solution to the problem.

Another questions regarding Turkey came from Michael McMahon, a Democratic congressman from New York. He asked Clinton about recent remarks by Ambassador James Jeffrey, America’s envoy to Ankara, and indicated that he was concerned that Jeffrey talked about Turkey’s security concerns in the divided island of Cyprus.

Jeffrey, in a recent newspaper interview, appeared to justify Turkey’s 1974 military intervention into the Turkish-Cypriot region in northern Cyprus in response to a coup engineered by the military junta ruling Greece at the time.

In response, Clinton first stated that her department has been heartened by some of the intense consultations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leadership, but noted that there is a lot more to do. She also added that Jeffrey was stating the opinion of the Turkish government in the remarks in question.

In her address to the congressional panels, Clinton also said that the United States is making their “new beginning with the Muslim world” concrete.

“We’re strengthening partnerships with allies in Europe and Asia, with friends in our own hemisphere and with countries around the world from India to Indonesia to South Africa, Brazil and Turkey. And yes, we are working every day to end the impasse and the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.”