The ‘thesis’ of Iran having nuclear exercises maintained insistently for a long time for peaceful aims, aroused anxiety in the International public opinion due to this country getting skilled in producing guns. Turkey’s ‘NO’ vote with Brazil caused various comments and speculation about applying additional sanctions to Iran, not only in Turkey but also in International level.
The politics which has been developed and applied by Turkey about Iran’s Nuclear program and additional sanctions, though she thinks it is unnecessary, are being expressed by the authorities and her attitude in the International area is in harmony with these politics. Therefore; under the lights of Turkey’s endeavor abiding the triple declaration articles, which is signed among Iran-Turkey-Brazil in Tehran on 17th of May, Turkey’s negative vote is not a surprise.
Nevertheless; it is understood that there seems to be expectations about Turkey using at least abstaining vote and taking Brazil along with as a result of pressure done by the Group of Six particularly by the USA but the expectations of Turkey and the other three countries were not in this direction.
No matter what happens, it is necessary to emphasize that the politics which are followed by the Turkish Diplomacy and the vote which is used by the Security Council representative is consistent.
After the voting on 9th June, it manifested as 12 yes, 2 ‘no’s with Turkey’s and Brazil’s votes and 1 abstaining vote with Lebanon, so the additional sanctions draft solution has been accepted. The additional sanctions which include various technical details and instead of giving damage to Iranians they target at nuclear program and revolutionary guards. The additional sanctions contain precautions through the available present sanctions, initially about frozenning the financial assets of 41 institutions which are connected with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and in this framework restriction of workers traveling. It is possible to order some of the most outstanding precautions below:
- Selling of some heavy guns such as; attack helicopters and missiles to Iran will be blocked
- The financial process of the banks which are suspected of having relations with Iran’s nuclear program will be frozen.
- Having serious suspicion about the ships which go to Iran and carry inhibited kind of cargo, these ships will be stopped in the international waters and checked by any country.
- All the United Nations countries, will give information to the United Nations Sanctions Committee in 60 days about the people and the institutions which are related with Iran revolutionary guards and the Defense Industry.
- While these entire precautions were taken, 5 members of the Security Council and Germany keep the solution ways open for the consultation and the negotiations through diplomatic endeavor with Iran, is demanded. Therefore, keeping the diplomacy ways open is understood especially by the Security Council.
As a matter of fact; while president Obama pointed out the decision of the Security Council as a clear answer for the Iran’s nuclear program, he emphasized the aim especially, as trying the diplomacy ways and follow them. Turkish side displayed its preference by using diplomacy ways with the reference of standing behind the triple Tehran Agreement on 17th of May. The President of Iran Mahmud Ahmedinejad have not discoursed anything about extinguishment of the triple Tehran declaration, apart from claiming the decision ‘as a paper to be thrown to the dustbin’.
The claims are aroused of Turkey’s breaking ties with the West and turning its direction entirely to the East, as a friend and an ally she is getting troublesome and she is in the ‘ axis shift’ in the international media and political environment excluding Arab and Muslim world. It can be said that these claims are being said under the influence of some certain affects to some appearances which Turkey does not occasionally exhibit. Many people are in the opinion that these reactions will cause harm more than a benefit. Without a doubt all these evaluations are not only related with the Iran aspect but also related with Gaza aid incident and the strain relations with Israel from Davos last year also getting into a crisis atmosphere. Iran is the one link of the event chain.
Today’s Turkey acts with the aim of showing herself in 21st century’s conditions and plays a pioneering role in several field with the conscious of its importance and potential power in the region. This aim; brings a new fact which could be welcomed by some naturally, on the contrary, some could have difficulties to accept it easily. In this century, we feel the globalization gradually; and Turkey will want to improve its current relationship with East as much as with West, will vary its relationship with North as much as with South, will broaden and carry the relationships further in these regions. There is nothing to feel strange about it. The whole accomplishment is that to show its existence in balance in every aspect and stay in the reasonable dimensions. The essential requirement is that; the ability of using its facilities and skills without exaggeration and avoid acting over assertive. Otherwise, demand of establishing similar economic and commercial relations with Turkey’s Arab neighbors Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, like with the core of the EU countries, should be encouraged instead of criticizing.