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US Defence Secretary Gates Blames EU for Turkey 'Drift'
09:05 - 10.06.10
Turkey's growing hostility to Israel may have been partly caused by
its effective rejection by the European Union, the US defence
secretary says.
Robert Gates said Turkey may have been "pushed by some in Europe" away
from the EU and into closer partnerships with states like Iran.
Turkey has been put on the path to EU membership, but countries like
France and Germany are openly opposed. Turkey and Israel's once-close
alliance has come under severe strain. Their relations were already
deteriorating before Israeli troops stormed a ship carrying aid to
Gaza last month, killing nine Turks.
Turkey has also strengthened ties with Iran, firmly opposing sanctions
over its nuclear programme.
"The deterioration in the relationship between Turkey and Israel over
the past year-or-so is a matter of concern," Gates said during a visit
to London.
"I think the two had a pretty constructive relationship and one that
contributed to stability in the region, and I hope that, over time,
that kind of constructive relationship can be re-established," he
added.
"I personally think that if there is anything to the notion that
Turkey is, if you will, moving eastward, it is, in my view, in no
small part because it was pushed, and pushed by some in Europe
refusing to give Turkey the kind of organic link to the West that
Turkey sought," he was reported by BBC News as saying.
"I think we have to think long and hard about why these developments
in Turkey [occurred] and what we might be able to do to counter them."
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
09:05 - 10.06.10
Turkey's growing hostility to Israel may have been partly caused by
its effective rejection by the European Union, the US defence
secretary says.
Robert Gates said Turkey may have been "pushed by some in Europe" away
from the EU and into closer partnerships with states like Iran.
Turkey has been put on the path to EU membership, but countries like
France and Germany are openly opposed. Turkey and Israel's once-close
alliance has come under severe strain. Their relations were already
deteriorating before Israeli troops stormed a ship carrying aid to
Gaza last month, killing nine Turks.
Turkey has also strengthened ties with Iran, firmly opposing sanctions
over its nuclear programme.
"The deterioration in the relationship between Turkey and Israel over
the past year-or-so is a matter of concern," Gates said during a visit
to London.
"I think the two had a pretty constructive relationship and one that
contributed to stability in the region, and I hope that, over time,
that kind of constructive relationship can be re-established," he
added.
"I personally think that if there is anything to the notion that
Turkey is, if you will, moving eastward, it is, in my view, in no
small part because it was pushed, and pushed by some in Europe
refusing to give Turkey the kind of organic link to the West that
Turkey sought," he was reported by BBC News as saying.
"I think we have to think long and hard about why these developments
in Turkey [occurred] and what we might be able to do to counter them."
Tert.am
From: A. Papazian