Turkey PM: If you don't want Iran to have nukes, give yours up

By Reuters

Last update - 20:10 31/10/2009

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that countries opposed to Iran's atomic program should give up their own nuclear weapons, and attacked as "arrogant" the sanctions imposed on Ankara's neighbor.

He also said he wanted the Middle East, and then the whole world, to rid itself of nuclear weapons.

During a trip to Iran this week, Erdogan said he backed Tehran's "right to peaceful nuclear energy" and called its approach in nuclear talks with Western powers "positive."
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The trip added to Western concern that NATO's only Muslim member may be shifting its foreign-policy focus towards the Islamic world and turning its back on Western allies.

Iran says the sole aim of its nuclear program is to generate electricity, but Western powers suspect it of secretly planning to produce nuclear weapons and are trying to persuade it to stop enriching uranium.

"... those who criticize Iran's nuclear program continue to possess the same weapons," said Erdogan, according to an advance copy, carried by state-run Anatolian news agency, of a televised address he was scheduled to make at 8 p.m.

"I think that those who take this stance, who want these arrogant sanctions, need to first give these [weapons] up. We shared this opinion with our Iranian friends, our brothers."

United Nations and U.S. sanctions have already been imposed on Iran over its nuclear program, and if current talks fail to produce agreement, Western powers may push for a further round of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Israel is assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal. Turkey, a European Union candidate, has been Israel's closest Muslim ally, but relations have soured since Israel's December-January offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad this week praised Erdogan for his "clear stance against" Israel.

Erdogan also said Turkey wants the Middle East, and in time the world, to be free of nuclear weapons. "We want to live in a region completely purged of nuclear weapons. We want to live in a world in which nuclear weapons no longer exist," he said.

Erdogan has tried to expand Turkey's influence in the Middle East and make it a regional power since his party, which traces it roots to an Islamist movement, took office in 2002.

Erdogan also reiterated previous remarks that Turkey and Iran have set themselves a target of more than tripling annual bilateral trade by 2011 to $30 billion.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1124839.html

Exactly is you have the means to flatten every country through conventional weaponary whats the pint of nukes?

Turkey's PM: First give up nuclear weapons to impose Iran sanctions

Erdogan said that countries opposed to Iran's atomic programme should give up their own nuclear weapons.

Sunday, 01 November 2009 09:36



Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that countries opposed to Iran's atomic programme should give up their own nuclear weapons and described the sanctions imposed on his neighbour as arrogant.

He also said he wanted the Middle East, and then the whole world, to rid itself of nuclear weapons.

During a trip to Iran this week, Erdogan said he backed Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear energy and called its approach in nuclear talks with Western powers positive.

"... those who criticise Iran's nuclear programme continue to possess the same weapons," said Erdogan, according to an advance copy, carried by state-run Anatolian news agency, of a televised address he made at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).

"I think that those who take this stance, who want these arrogant sanctions, need to first give these (weapons) up. We shared this opinion with our Iranian friends, our brothers."

Erdogan also said Turkey wants the Middle East, and in time the world, to be free of nuclear weapons. "We want to live in a region completely purged of nuclear weapons. We want to live in a world in which nuclear weapons no longer exist," he said.

Erdogan has tried to expand Turkey's influence in the Middle East and make it a regional power since his party took office in 2002.

Erdogan also reiterated previous remarks that Turkey and Iran have set themselves a target of more than tripling annual bilateral trade by 2011 to $30 billion.

Iran says it enriches uranium for civilian applications and that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has a right to the technology already in the hands of many others.

However, most experts estimate that Israel has at least between 100 and 200 nuclear warheads, largely based on information leaked to the Sunday Times newspaper in the 1980s by Mordechai Vanunu, a former worker at the country's Dimona nuclear reactor.

Israel, which has initiated several wars in the region in its 60-year history, has not denied having nuclear weapons, but has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and open its facilities for IAEA perusal.

Israel also often threatens Iran an attack over its nuclear sites.


Agencies

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=49298

lol this guy wont last long haha

It's weird how Erdogan is defending Iran on the international arena even more than Ahmedinejad himself. 

Turk Bir Dev

Erdogan is pursuing an agenda.

Turkey may be a friendly nation to us but not that friendly. There is even rumours about the Billions of Dollars that was found in Turkey some time ago originating from Iran. Who knows perhaps Iran bribes the political elite in Turkey to shift its position towards Iran and Israel.

It is interesting though. However, don't even think for a second that your politicians are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.

It also goes without saying that Turkey's position certainly weakened Israel and isolated it more.

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Another reason for our foreign policy shift is our extremely slow moving EU accession process. EU is treating Turkey differently and unfairly just because we're Muslim. Turkey's disagreement with America's Middle East policy and the further expansion of NATO to the Black Sea region (something that bothers both Turkey and Russia) and Israel's clear hypocracy about nuclear capabilities in the ME as well as their use of phosphorus-based weapons against the Palestenian civilians are running out most Turks' patience. Turkey's ruling party AKP is representing 47% of the Turkish electorate, which is a VERY significant portion considering Turkey's high number of political parties and traditional coalition governments. This large voter base gives them the confidence to pretty much do as they wish.

Turkey wants to show the EU and USA that we have other options too and aren't necessarily dependent on them. Iran is one of our natural neighbors and the two nations have been at peace for centuries. Surely we have our differences of opinion on a lot of things but that is no reason for us not to trade. If Europe was able to unite after a devestating world war, why can't Turks and Iranians at least cooperate? Indeed, a startegic, long term partnership will be extremely beneficial to both Iran and Turkey and help the duo focus on threats elsewhere.

Turk Bir Dev

puck Erdogan and hes AKP we ll join Israel and fight along side em till we have beaten those Iranian DOGS. Erdogan is an Islamist he is sympathizing with the Iranian ideology he is a disgrace for our republic and a traitor

long live our republic as we will fight those Islamists as religion is the grates threat to mankind

EU is treating Turkey differently and unfairly just because we're Muslim.

True. Also, because European constitution would give Turkey too many votes in the European Parliament based on its population and that is what Europeans are most afraid of. If Turkey was a country of 20 million, we would be having this conversation. Don't forget that Turkey may be a country where the majority is Muslim but it is not an Islamic country. It is a secular state.

Turkey's ruling party AKP is representing 47% of the Turkish electorate,

That may be true but It seems that America has dropped its support for traditional corrupt parties that ruled Turkey for decades in favour of the Islamic party. In other words, they seem to be having the blessing of Uncle Sam.

There are some that claim that America is planning a Green (Islamic) Middle East and they demonstrated their wish but switching to Islamists in Turkey.

 we have other options too and aren't necessarily dependent on them.

I completely agree. I think Turkey is using a scare tactic. The big victim here is Israel, of course. Iran may benefit from it in a short term but I don't see Turkey switching in real life. Turkey's politics is a bit too conservative for such moves and that could be a good thing / a bad thing: Conservatism brings about stability and prosperity in the long run along with investors' confidence as opposed to adventurous sudden change of politicis. On the hand, the West might not take Turkey's moves (scare tactics) seriously due to their knowledge of Turkey's conservatism.

However, Turkish politicians should not push it too far. Otherwise, you will see a flight of European capital and souring relations and Turkey's ailing economy will tumble even further.

that is no reason for us not to trade.

I couldn't agree more. If we could trade with our neighbours more, why would we foster strong relations with countries that we don't know. Nor trust. Why should countries like Iran or Turkey rely on great powers (whether current Turkey or Iran under Shah) instead of relying on each other? We need to be more ambitious. I have been saying this for a long time. I have a dream.... I have a dream of a common market in our region and that can only be a beginning.

Look at it this way: If former foes such as France, Germany and Britain could do it why can't we? Why? Especially if you know that our borders have remained unchallenged for centuries.

 If Europe was able to unite after a devestating world war, why can't Turks and Iranians at least cooperate? Indeed, a startegic, long term partnership will be extremely beneficial to both Iran and Turkey and help the duo focus on threats elsewhere.

Lool It is funny. After I wrote my last statements I read your last paragraph which is very similar.

 

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good thread PEDO!



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Puck the EU and the AKP it is time to puck those AKP puckers up for good