Erdogan brands claims of "axis shift" in Turkish foreign policy "dirty propaganda"

Ankara argued yesterday that legitimacy, consistency, and a principled stance, rather than an alleged "axis shift," led to its vote on Wednesday at the UN Security Council rejecting new sanctions against Iran. Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the council, were the only states among the council's 15 members to vote against the imposition of a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over a nuclear program the West suspects is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Lebanon abstained. A uranium swap deal brokered last month by Turkey and Brazil – a deal almost identical to one proposed by UN atomic watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and backed by the US and other world powers only seven months ago – was the main reason cited by the nations for their "no" votes; they have insisted that the door to diplomacy with Tehran be kept open. "If we hadn't said 'no,' then we would have denied ourselves, we would have denied our signatures on the nuclear swap deal with Iran, which would have been dishonorable," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the opening of a foreign ministerial meeting of the Turkish-Arab Forum in Istanbul. "We wouldn't want any part in such a mistake, because history wouldn't forgive us. Future generations wouldn't forgive us," Erdogan told the meeting attended by ministers from 22 Arab League members. "Today, we're still working to resolve the issue through diplomatic means; these efforts will continue." Turkey's vote against the sanctions was followed by various media reports calling it another sign of a shift in the orientation of Turkish foreign policy. At least one story claimed that Turkey has come "unstuck" from its loyalty to America and the Western alliance, while others argued that Turkey is leading itself into isolation. Speaking at the forum, Erdogan branded charges that Turkey is turning away from the West "dirty propaganda," and pointed to French investments in Syria and other Arab countries. "But when it comes to Turkey investing in Arab countries or vice versa, dirty propaganda tries to impede this process," he argued. "Those who say that Turkey has broken away from the West are the messengers of ill-meant propaganda. We are open to all parts of the world. We're not open to one and closed to another." Asked about claims of Turkey's isolation after its "no" vote, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Burak Ozugergin said, "Since when does acting in a principled manner lead to a country's isolation?" In related news, the Obama administration said that last month's uranium swap deal still remained in place, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the door was still open to diplomacy with Iran. "We do want them back at the negotiating table," she said. She also hinted that the US might be willing to sit down with Iranian officials as part of a group that includes Turkey and Brazil.