Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept.17. / Trend E.Ostapenko /
Turkey can be a convenient platform for the planned Tehran- European "six" negotiations on the nuclear issue, but none of the sides need special "mediators", as they have their own connection channels, well-known European expert, Igor Torbakov, said. Torbakov was commenting on Turkey's role in the world.
"Despite Ankara's activism, neither the "six" nor Tehran need a special "mediator", as they have their own connection," leading researcher of the Finnish Institute of International Relations, Igor Torbakov, said by telephone.
Cultivating trusting relations with both sides, Turkey can be a convenient platform for the upcoming negotiations. However, Turkey's real role in resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue at the moment would be "very modest", Torbakov added.
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 Torbakov, Turkey's role, will consist of not so much "mediation", as providing "good services": Turkey will provide a platform for negotiations, but it will not be involved in it.
Turkey has long been actively trying to mediate in talks between the West and Iran.
This activity fits well with the current foreign policy of Turkey, one of whose goals is to increase the value of Turkey as a regional power, Torbakov added.
According to the expert, Turkey is interested in resolving the Iranian "nuclear problem" for two reasons:
- it seeks to eliminate a potential source of instability near its borders;
- it seeks full cooperation with Iran in the energy sector (possible supply of Iranian gas for Nabucco pipeline) that will turn Turkey into a real focus of energy flows in the region.
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