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Turkey’s inclusion in P5+1 to make talks more effective
In addition, Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted on Thursday the spokesperson for EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton as saying that the European Union will discuss with the P5+1 the inclusion of Turkey and Brazil in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. “The final decision will be made after consulting with all parties involved,” the spokesperson was reported as saying.
Sunday’s Zaman learned on Thursday from Turkish diplomatic sources that Turkey has not yet received an official request for its involvement, while reiterating that the Turkish capital has often emphasized that Ankara would take part in Iranian nuclear talks only if all parties in the dispute request its involvement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier this month in Lisbon that Tehran wants a change in the structure of the P5+1. “There have to be changes in the structure of the P5+1 group. New countries must join this group,” Mottaki said, but failed to mention Turkey or Brazil.
“Turkey’s contribution to the P5+1 is conspicuous,” Hüsnü Mahalli, a prominent expert on the Middle East, told Sunday’s Zaman, dismissing the importance of Turkey’s formal representation in the talks. “Turkey’s involvement in the P5+1 is a procedural discourse and is not really important considering Turkey’s inescapable role in Iran’s nuclear talks,” Mahalli noted. He claimed Turkey has already contributed significantly to the course of the nuclear talks and that there is no need for Turkey to be among the major powers. The international community already knows what Turkey’s significance is.
Last Sunday, İstanbul hosted Mottaki, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, where they decided to refuel nuclear talks in early September. The Turkish foreign minister also stressed following the three-way meeting that there are two tracks regarding Iran’s nuclear issue and that Brazil and Turkey could play an important role in facilitating talks, probably implying getting involved in P5+1 talks.
Asked how important Turkey’s inclusion in Iran’s nuclear talks is, Hasan Köni from Galatasaray University said “very.” Noting that Iran trusting the West is not possible, Köni said Turkey’s involvement is important because the country will convey messages from the West to Iran in a more reliable way.
Turkey played a tremendous role in bringing Iran to the diplomacy table last October in Geneva after a series of talks with Iranian and European diplomats in Tehran. Talks between six major powers and Iran yielded no results, with Iran eventually refusing to transfer 1,200 kilograms of highly enriched uranium to Turkey. Turkey and later Brazil joined the second track of diplomacy with Iran and urged it to agree on a fuel swap suggested by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and supported by the US on the eve of a United Nations Security Council vote on the fourth round of economic sanctions against Iran.
The same scenario also continues this fall, as Iran agreed to talk to the P5+1 after joint Turkish-Brazilian efforts. Mahalli said that without Turkey Iran’s nuke dispute would never be solved. “Despite everything, Turkey is a ‘key country’ in the region. Turkey’s engagement in Iraq, Iran, the Syria-Israel peace talks, the Middle East peace process, stability in Lebanon and peace in the Caucasus is very important to effectively solve matters in the region,” the columnist said.
Köni also raised the issue of Brazil’s nuclear program, which is very advanced, and said Turkey does not have a nuclear program that makes it more reliable in dealing with Iran.
Reiterating Amorim’s remarks in İstanbul that there needs to be a new international structure, Mahalli said this was the “most important sentence.” He also noted that there was a parade of top Western officials visiting Turkey in the past week and that they prefer to come to Turkey because they understand its clout, not because it is among the six major powers.
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