Turkey would spare no effort to facilitate nuclear talks, Davutoglu says

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has reiterated Turkey's assurances that the country would do whatever necessary to facilitate nuclear talks between Iran and Western countries, in an attempt to resume a process that was stalled over disagreements and polarized the world a little further. "What's important is for the negotiations to start as soon as possible so that the tension may finally be reduced," Davutoglu was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency on Thursday, as he addressed reporters at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. "Turkey is ready to extend any help, make any contribution," he added, noting it was high time for talks to start again and a settlement to be reached to ease tensions between Iran and the West. Davutoglu also noted both sides told him of their readiness and eagerness to continue the negotiations, to which Salehi replied that Iran was ready to talk "if the other side will act with sincerity." "If there were any excuses on their part, then this would mean they are against and do not endorse negotiations," Salehi said. Davutoglu also confirmed that, having met both sides, all parties were willing to negotiate Iran's nuclear program once more, and he offered that Istanbul could be the venue again. Istanbul was also the venue of choice voiced by Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, and Salehi himself. On the issue of a NATO early-warning system implemented by Turkey, Salehi repeated that threats stemming from his country against Turkey for its hosting of the radar did not reflect official views and should be dismissed. "Iran has faith in Turkish officials, not in [US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham] Clinton," Salehi added, referring to explanations from the US that the radar system is aimed at blocking Iranian missiles against Europe, a claim Turkey says does not reflect the truth since the system has no targets. In a clear message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Davutoglu said Turkey had no intentions of meddling in the internal affairs of any country, but the country could not remain silent to the negative events happening around it. He suggested Turkey would naturally react to the direction a rift between Sunni and Shiite blocs is heading. Davutoglu also noted Turkey was closely watching developments in Syria and repeated Turkey's official call on Bashar al-Assad to stop the bloodshed in the country. "We want the attacks against civilians to stop," Davutoğlu urged Syria, saying Turkey was waiting on a report from the Arab League to decide on the next steps to be taken with regards to the Syrian issue.