Changing balance of power for Turkey

Turkey has transformed into a regional power thanks to the strength of its economy. Now it seeks a geopolitical position that is commensurate with its growth.

"The US president Barack Obama's administration has made it clear that Turkey is a strategic priority for Washington," said Saad Mehio in a comment article for the UAE newspaper Al Khaleej. "The US looks at Ankara as a model partner with whom to achieve its vital interests in the greater Middle East." Theoretically, the US and Turkey have identical interests, as both would like to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict and seek to achieve stability in Iraq. Similarly, they oppose Iran possessing an atomic bomb and support Afghanistan to restore security. No less important, they both look forward to seeing Syria change its path towards the West.

Practically, there appears a conflict of interests. Turkey is no longer the "junior partner" that it was 90 years ago. The country has remarkably transformed into a regional power thanks to the strength of its economy. And now it seeks a geopolitical position that is commensurate with its growth. Ankara would like to be recognised as a regional power, while it expects the West to acknowledge its growing interests in the East. For these reasons, it is easy to notice potential areas of overlap, if not competition, between Washington and Ankara. This could lead to a serious conflict of interests in the future, which could require Washington to treat Turkey as an equal partner.

"The relations between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency might grow more tense, as Iran has denied the entry of two IAEA officials," the Saudi newspaper Al Watan wrote in its editorial. "Such a situation needs to be controlled to avoid further escalation, which might lead to dire consequences affecting the whole region." Even though a senior Iranian diplomat affirmed that his country would allow IAEA's inspectors to continue monitoring its nuclear activities, Tehran's intransigent attitude might deepen the crisis over its nuclear ambitions.

Iran should never have rushed to accuse inspectors of presenting false information without verifying the validity of the claims. The Iranians should also understand that the atomic crisis has taken a serious turn with the UAE decision to shut down 40 Iranian companies which were found to have violated international sanctions. The same source indicated that the UAE is committed to its obligations to curb the spread of nuclear arms, and is ready to close down any company covered by the UN sanctions. This means that the UN Security Council resolution 1929 passed this month on the new economic sanctions against Iran has entered into effect. So this is a reminder for the Iranian government to demonstrate good intentions in order to ensure its own security and that of the region.

It is necessary for Arabs to stay vigilant about the latest of the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's manoeuvres when he decided to ease the Gaza blockade, warned Ezzeddine Darwish in a comment article for the Syrian newspaper Tishreen.

This "incomplete" step could distract attention from what the Israeli government is intending to undertake in occupied Jerusalem. It has been reported that Mr Netanyahu is preparing a large-scale settlement programme affecting not only Jerusalem, but also many places across the West Bank. The plan aims at expropriating lands and homes, in addition to displacing thousands of Palestinian families. Many Israeli sources said that this is the right time to implement such a settlement project, since both indirect negotiations with the Palestinians and the loosening of the embargo could serve as a cover.

For these reasons, Palestinians must be very cautious, and an effective Arab stance is needed to to put an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Arabs can also take advantage of international support. Another avenue they may seek is through the US by promoting their peace plan. Arabs should present the Americans with their arguments against Israeli aggressions and express their keen interest in peace. To achieve this, they need to act in unison but at the same time be realistic.

The pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al Awsat announced that Moroccan authorities have dismantled a new terrorist network of 11 people led by a Palestinian. The unnamed group, according to official sources, was planning to carry out terrorist attacks inside the country. Mohammed Darif, a Moroccan researcher of Islamic groups, said that this is the first time a network headed by a person from a foreign Arab country has been dismantled. Since Morocco launched a campaign against terrorist groups in 2002, all of the leaders were Moroccans either living in Morocco or abroad.

Asharq al Awsat also learned that many cases of disappearances were registered in Casablanca over the past month, and it is possible that they have a connection with the network. The ministry statement also indicated that the group adopted a jihadist ideology. Last month, Morocco announced that it succeeded in arresting a terrorist network made of 38 people tied to al Qa'eda militants who were involved in the recruitment of Moroccans to  fight in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and coastal Sahara.

* Digest compiled by Mostapha El Mouloudi @Email:[e-mail]