Israel Matzav

White House denies Turkey warning

Earlier, I reported that President Obama had given Turkey what I characterized as a warning, but which was called an 'ultimatum' by the Financial Times of London. The White House is now denying that story.

“The president and Erdogan did speak about 10 days ago, and they talked about Iran and the flotilla and other issues related to that,” White House spokesman Bill Burton told the press aboard Air Force One Monday. “We obviously have an ongoing dialogue with them. But no such [arms] ultimatum was issued.”

“There’s no ultimatum,” Burton added.

Turkish diplomatic sources also say there has never been any sort of U.S. arms ultimatum, although they concede Ankara's standing in Congress has been hurt as a result of Turkish-Israeli diplomatic tensions in the wake of Gaza flotilla violence in May. That tension has eased somewhat in recent weeks. Turkey and Israel agreed earlier this month to the formation of a U.N. panel to oversee investigations of the Gaza flotilla violence.

By many accounts, Obama did take a tough tone with Erdogan at a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 in Canada in late June. But Turkish officials say the meeting was positive as it helped dispel any lingering sense of U.S. ambiguity about Turkey’s role in negotiating a possible Iran nuclear fuel swap deal.

U.S. diplomatic sources also say Turkey has played a far more constructive role in recent weeks regarding the possible Iran fuel swap, consulting the U.S. frequently on developments in negotiations.

Of note is the key role Turkey played at a July 25 meeting in Turkey of the Turkish, Iranian and Brazilian foreign ministers, at which Iran was persuaded to formally respond to the International Atomic Energy Agency about a possible fuel swap deal, and to agree to meet with the E.U.’s High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton after Ramadan. The U.S. was extremely satisfied with Turkey’s role in the July negotiations, diplomatic sources say.

I didn't think this White House gave Turkey an ultimatum. That would be completely out of character.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:27 AM