 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Zhang Wen Turkey faces a difficult foreign policy decision regarding joining a NATO missile shield proposed by the US against possible Iranian threats, AFP quoted analysts as saying Sunday. While the US is pushing Turkey to participate, it is a true dilemma for Ankara, which has been recently seen as trying to maintain good relations with its neighbors, said Sinan Ogan, director of the Turkey Center for International Relations and Strategic Analysis. US President Barack Obama put forth the idea of building a network of ballistic missile interceptors in Europe, but Russia perceives such action as a direct threat. The plan has been taken up by NATO, which is trying to convince members of the alliance to back the project. Turkey will likely be pressed to get off the fence soon, as NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen wants a decision on the missile shield to be made at a summit of the alliance's leaders November 19 and 20 in Lisbon. According to the Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review, US officials admitted last week that they have visited Turkey "a couple of times" to hold talks over the new missile plan. Steven Pifer, director of the Arms Control Initiative at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, said Turkey should at least view the plan as an "insurance policy" against Iran, even if it does not believe that Iran wants nuclear weapons. However, "Turkey is 'turning east' recently, after many years of pursuing full membership in the club of the West, including the EU," Tian Wenlin, a researcher with the Institute of Western Asian and African Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. Turkey refused to support UN sanctions against Iran, and established the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum to strengthen trade and energy resource ties with the Middle East. In May, eight Turkish activists were killed when their Gaza-bond aid ships were intercepted by Israeli commandos. Separately, Iran on Friday welcomed EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton's offer to return to the nuclear talks next month. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that world powers have no option but to talk with Iran about its nuclear program. Agencies contributed to this story |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
