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Undeclared warfare between Iran and Turkey
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2013/08/25/Undeclared-warfare-between-Iran-and-Turkey.html
Sunday, 25 August 2013 KSA 10:10 - GMT 07:10
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Mahir Zeynalov
Turkey's strange ties with Iran, still presented as a significant
pillar to the region's stability, have deteriorated into virtual
unacknowledged warfare, with two countries literally waging a proxy
war beyond their borders in the region.
Throughout the last century, Iran and Turkey had difficult times to
understand how they relate to each other but couldn't risk severing
ties despite numerous confrontations over a wide range of regional
issues. In the past few years, Turkish government officials used a
treaty signed between Ottoman and Iranian delegates in the city of
Qasr-e Shirin to describe how the borders of the two countries have
remained unchanged since the agreement was signed in 1639, a widely
accepted myth.
Turkish officials frequently refer to the Qasr-e Shirin agreement to
illustrate how their relationship is solid and based on mutual
respect. Since the famous agreement, six states have been established
in both countries (two in Turkey and four in Iran) and the borders had
changed for ten times, the last time in 1931. Presenting the Qasr-e
Shirin myth as a cover for a number of wars the two countries fought
in the past four centuries also characterizes today's relationship
between Iran and Turkey.
Unrestrained
There are privately held views among Turkish government officials that
Iran should get the wrecking-ball treatment as a way of preserving
Turkey's national interests.
Mahir Zeynalov
While Iranian political and military officials are unrestrained in
their critical remarks about Turkey, often tantamount to threats,
Turkish officials are much softer while talking about their
relationship, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the
two nations. It is unclear how false description of ties helps prevent
further confrontation at a time when the two nations are even fighting
a proxy war in Syria, where more than two years of civil war has left
at least 100,000 people dead, mostly civilians.
When Turkey kicked off its ambitious foreign policy in the region
under the leadership of its popular prime minister, Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an, his then adviser and later Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
tried to assure the neighboring countries that Turkey's rise is
peaceful and that it only aims to advance peace in the region.
DavutoÄ?lu's goal was to cultivate relations among countries in
Turkey's vicinity by abolishing visa requirements, creating free trade
zones, and constantly holding high-level political consultations.
Deepening ties with Iran was a cornerstone of this project that is now
crumbling after Iran has started to sabotage Turkey's interests in the
region.
Hero's welcome
During his visit to Beirut in 2010, ErdoÄ?an received a hero's welcome
but Turkey's influence in the country has declined precipitously since
then. Kidnapping of Turkish citizens are on the rise while its
interests are under great danger. In Iraq, Turkish diplomats had a
rare ability to talk to every segment of the war-torn nation and
Turkey conducted a flurry of diplomacy during government formation
process in 2010. In the case of Syria, the relationship has been one
of the best success stories of modern times. From the brink of war in
1999, only prevented thanks to mediation of former Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak, to lifting what they called `artificial borders' in
2010, Turkey slowly drifted Syria out of Iran's orbit of influence,
contributing to Syria's integration to the Western world.
In a region of constantly shifting ground, Turkey failed to maintain
these ties and it still refuses to publicly acknowledge that Iran is
to blame for much of the foreign policy mess Turkey is involved in in
neighboring countries.
Turkey's mistake
Turkey's mistake was to put too much trust on Iran's conduct of
foreign policy. Without having any kind of bargaining deal, Ankara
shielded Iran against the fourth round of U.N. Security Council
sanctions at the expense of its strategic ties with the United States.
It also prevented NATO from openly describing its anti-missile radar
system stationed in Turkey as an installation built against Iran.
Turkey has received little, if any, in return. Despite Turkey's
reluctance to cut import of natural gas from Iran as part of
unilateral sanctions by Washington, Iran charges around $500 for a
thousand cubic meters of natural gas, more than any of Turkey's gas
trade partners.
Iranian officials bash Turkey every week, sometimes issuing
threatening statements. When inquired, they claim that the officials
are only expressing their `personal views' and that they don't fit
into Iran's official policy towards Turkey.
In Lebanon, Iran's destabilizing role is not unknown. They largely
bankroll Hezbollah to fight a war on behalf of the Syrian regime
against rebels backed by Turkey. In Syria, Tehran is providing a
credit line to Damascus, frequently sends cargo planes full of weapons
and dispatch military advisers and militants to fight against the
rebels. Iran's backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is no doubt
one of the reasons why rebels failed to make progress since April this
year, a major setback for Turkey's interests.
Bleak situation
In Iraq, the situation remains as bleak as ever. Turkey is not talking
to Baghdad and its companies that used to receive lucrative deals are
under tremendous pressure by the central government. Since the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in December 2011, Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki and ErdoÄ?an have exchanged a war of words,
both accusing each other of destabilizing Iraq. It is also not
surprising to see that the Iranian-backed government of Maliki has
done everything to sabotage Turkish interests in the country despite
efforts by Washington to reverse this course.
There are privately held views among Turkish government officials that
Iran should get the wrecking-ball treatment as a way of preserving
Turkey's national interests. Failing to recognize that Iran is the
source of many of the woes that characterize Turkey's ailing foreign
policy could spell further harm for Ankara's interests. Iran and
Turkey should start seriously discussing the scope of their relations,
agree to disagree on a wide array of regional issues and make strict
`give and take' deals. History has shown time and again to bet on
Iran's conduct in foreign policy initiatives carries with it risk.
______________
Mahir Zeynalov is an Istanbul-based journalist with English-language
daily Today's Zaman. He is also the managing editor of the Caucasus
International magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @MahirZeynalov
From: A. Papazian
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/world/2013/08/25/Undeclared-warfare-between-Iran-and-Turkey.html
Sunday, 25 August 2013 KSA 10:10 - GMT 07:10
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Mahir Zeynalov
Turkey's strange ties with Iran, still presented as a significant
pillar to the region's stability, have deteriorated into virtual
unacknowledged warfare, with two countries literally waging a proxy
war beyond their borders in the region.
Throughout the last century, Iran and Turkey had difficult times to
understand how they relate to each other but couldn't risk severing
ties despite numerous confrontations over a wide range of regional
issues. In the past few years, Turkish government officials used a
treaty signed between Ottoman and Iranian delegates in the city of
Qasr-e Shirin to describe how the borders of the two countries have
remained unchanged since the agreement was signed in 1639, a widely
accepted myth.
Turkish officials frequently refer to the Qasr-e Shirin agreement to
illustrate how their relationship is solid and based on mutual
respect. Since the famous agreement, six states have been established
in both countries (two in Turkey and four in Iran) and the borders had
changed for ten times, the last time in 1931. Presenting the Qasr-e
Shirin myth as a cover for a number of wars the two countries fought
in the past four centuries also characterizes today's relationship
between Iran and Turkey.
Unrestrained
There are privately held views among Turkish government officials that
Iran should get the wrecking-ball treatment as a way of preserving
Turkey's national interests.
Mahir Zeynalov
While Iranian political and military officials are unrestrained in
their critical remarks about Turkey, often tantamount to threats,
Turkish officials are much softer while talking about their
relationship, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the
two nations. It is unclear how false description of ties helps prevent
further confrontation at a time when the two nations are even fighting
a proxy war in Syria, where more than two years of civil war has left
at least 100,000 people dead, mostly civilians.
When Turkey kicked off its ambitious foreign policy in the region
under the leadership of its popular prime minister, Recep Tayyip
ErdoÄ?an, his then adviser and later Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu
tried to assure the neighboring countries that Turkey's rise is
peaceful and that it only aims to advance peace in the region.
DavutoÄ?lu's goal was to cultivate relations among countries in
Turkey's vicinity by abolishing visa requirements, creating free trade
zones, and constantly holding high-level political consultations.
Deepening ties with Iran was a cornerstone of this project that is now
crumbling after Iran has started to sabotage Turkey's interests in the
region.
Hero's welcome
During his visit to Beirut in 2010, ErdoÄ?an received a hero's welcome
but Turkey's influence in the country has declined precipitously since
then. Kidnapping of Turkish citizens are on the rise while its
interests are under great danger. In Iraq, Turkish diplomats had a
rare ability to talk to every segment of the war-torn nation and
Turkey conducted a flurry of diplomacy during government formation
process in 2010. In the case of Syria, the relationship has been one
of the best success stories of modern times. From the brink of war in
1999, only prevented thanks to mediation of former Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak, to lifting what they called `artificial borders' in
2010, Turkey slowly drifted Syria out of Iran's orbit of influence,
contributing to Syria's integration to the Western world.
In a region of constantly shifting ground, Turkey failed to maintain
these ties and it still refuses to publicly acknowledge that Iran is
to blame for much of the foreign policy mess Turkey is involved in in
neighboring countries.
Turkey's mistake
Turkey's mistake was to put too much trust on Iran's conduct of
foreign policy. Without having any kind of bargaining deal, Ankara
shielded Iran against the fourth round of U.N. Security Council
sanctions at the expense of its strategic ties with the United States.
It also prevented NATO from openly describing its anti-missile radar
system stationed in Turkey as an installation built against Iran.
Turkey has received little, if any, in return. Despite Turkey's
reluctance to cut import of natural gas from Iran as part of
unilateral sanctions by Washington, Iran charges around $500 for a
thousand cubic meters of natural gas, more than any of Turkey's gas
trade partners.
Iranian officials bash Turkey every week, sometimes issuing
threatening statements. When inquired, they claim that the officials
are only expressing their `personal views' and that they don't fit
into Iran's official policy towards Turkey.
In Lebanon, Iran's destabilizing role is not unknown. They largely
bankroll Hezbollah to fight a war on behalf of the Syrian regime
against rebels backed by Turkey. In Syria, Tehran is providing a
credit line to Damascus, frequently sends cargo planes full of weapons
and dispatch military advisers and militants to fight against the
rebels. Iran's backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is no doubt
one of the reasons why rebels failed to make progress since April this
year, a major setback for Turkey's interests.
Bleak situation
In Iraq, the situation remains as bleak as ever. Turkey is not talking
to Baghdad and its companies that used to receive lucrative deals are
under tremendous pressure by the central government. Since the
withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in December 2011, Iraqi Prime
Minister Nouri al-Maliki and ErdoÄ?an have exchanged a war of words,
both accusing each other of destabilizing Iraq. It is also not
surprising to see that the Iranian-backed government of Maliki has
done everything to sabotage Turkish interests in the country despite
efforts by Washington to reverse this course.
There are privately held views among Turkish government officials that
Iran should get the wrecking-ball treatment as a way of preserving
Turkey's national interests. Failing to recognize that Iran is the
source of many of the woes that characterize Turkey's ailing foreign
policy could spell further harm for Ankara's interests. Iran and
Turkey should start seriously discussing the scope of their relations,
agree to disagree on a wide array of regional issues and make strict
`give and take' deals. History has shown time and again to bet on
Iran's conduct in foreign policy initiatives carries with it risk.
______________
Mahir Zeynalov is an Istanbul-based journalist with English-language
daily Today's Zaman. He is also the managing editor of the Caucasus
International magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @MahirZeynalov
From: A. Papazian