Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 16 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
Turkey's chances to become an effective mediator between Iran and the EU in resolving the nuclear issue are great enough, but Turkey's role should not be exaggerated, experts said.
"Turkey has a positive image in the international community, so it has the potential for mediation," Secretary of the Organization to Protect the Iranian National Interests, Said Yari, told Trend over the telephone.
On Sept.15, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), said that a meeting of Iran and the EU "six" is likely to be held in Turkey. Negotiations are scheduled for Oct.1.
The U.S. and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of peaceful nuclear energy program. Tehran rejects these accusations, claiming that its nuclear program is aimed solely at meeting the country's electricity needs.
According to Yari, when the two sides have differences, then the third country undertakes a mediator mission and achieves certain results, it has been so from the ancient times.
"Due to the fact that Iran confides in Ankara, holding discussions of Tehran's nuclear program in Turkey is appropriate," former analyst of the Turkish National Intelligence Committee, Mahir Kaynak told Trend in a telephone conversation from Ankara.
"Official Ankara's close diplomatic relations with both western and eastern countries in many fields allow Turkey to act as a mediator in the region," said Kaynak.
According to Kaynak, Tehran, in turn, also will not be against of holding the meeting in Turkey.
However, Europe does not share the positive attitude towards the effect of Turkey's participation in this negotiation process, because Iran has repeatedly stated it was not going to discuss the nuclear program.
On Sept. 9, Iran submitted its package of proposals to the representatives of the EU "six" on the nuclear issue and other global challenges.
However, in these proposals Iran had not responded to the undertaken question. Negotiations of "six" continues to formulate a "coordinated response" on the issue of Iran's nuclear program, Solana's spokesman, Cristina Gallach, said.
Turkey may host the Iran and the EU "six" discussions on the Iranian nuclear program, as it is a convenient place for both sides to meet, well-known European analyst, Michael Emerson, said.
Turkey is quite a convenient place logistically and politically for both parties to meet, said Michael Emerson, Director of the European Neighborhood, Foreign and Security Policy program of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels, over the telephone.
"Iran's problem is very serious. It concerns Turkey, the rest of Europe and the rest of the world. Turkey is one of the interested parties, and has a certain relationship in Iran," Emerson added.
Turkish Foreign Minister, Ahmed Davudoglu's meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki held in Tehran last weekend, may be a proof of this. The ministers called for increased security cooperation between the two neighboring countries and expressed their determination to fight with terrorism and extremism.
"Regarding the balance of forces in the world regarding Iranian affair, Turkey hasn't been very much involved. Turkey has a certain voice, but I doubt if it is going to be a very decisive one," Emerson said.
Turkey could be a voice, a positive voice, but I wouldn't put it stronger than that, Emerson added.
R. Hafizoglu and D.Khatinoglu contributed to the article.
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