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Turkey "permitted" weapons related material to transit for Iran nuclear programme, Wikileaks cables from US Emabssy in Paris reveals
International News Desk
Secret diplomatic cables leaked by Wikileaks has revealed the scale of the chasm that exists between Washington and Ankara with suspicions that Ankara’s shift to the east has taken on a far more important shift, with possible collusion, and support for the Iran nuclear programme.
According to a cable from the US Embassy in Paris, Israel government officials expressed "profound disquiet" over Turkeys role with Iran, and "the Israelis claimed the Turks have allowed weapons-related material for Iran's nuclear program to transit Turkey, with Prime Minister Erdogan's full knowledge."
"Turkey's recent strategic shift away from western positions on the peace process, Iran, and Israel's nuclear program. Erdogan's public comments about Israel's nuclear weapons had particularly irked the Israelis, Bereyziat explained, describing them as unprecedented by a Turkish leader. Moreover, the Israelis blamed the Europeans, and especially France, for this shift in Turkey's policy. They said that if Europe had more warmly embraced Turkey, then the Turks would not be taking steps to earn approval in the Arab and Muslim world at the expense of Israel. The French, in response to this accusation, "begged to differ," Bereyziat said.
In what diplomatic circles have described as a "new nadir" in relations between the west and Ankara, the Israelis suspicions of assistance to Tehran’s nuclear programme, are qualified with a demand by the French government for Israel to provide "concrete proof" of such activity before levelling accusations. The Israelis replied that they are "collecting evidence which they will eventually publicize."
Prime Minister Erdrogan was also subject to heavy criticism by Israelis in exchanges with French government officials with accusations that "he's a fundamentalist. He hates us religiously” and his hatred is spreading." The Wikileaks cable said:
"Levy cited a perceived anti-Israeli shift in Turkish foreign policy, including the GoT's recent elevation of its relations with Syria and its quest for observer status in the Arab League."
The diplomat sending the despatch commented that "our discussions with contacts both inside and outside of the Turkish government on Turkey's deteriorating relations with Israel tend to confirm Levy's thesis that Erdogan simply hates Israel. xxxxx discusses contributing reasons for Erdogan's tilt on Iran/Middle East isues, but antipathy towards Israel is a factor."
In recent weeks the western media, particularly in the United Kingdom, articles have been published in favour or Turkey joining the European Union, with Jack Straw the former Labour foreign secretary particularly vocal in support of the Turks, and recent articles in the Financial Times notably the UK Minister for Europe David Liddington stating "We will continue to make the argument for Turkey’s EU membership."
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