Turkey Wants Larger Mideast Role, But Won't Disrupt Alliances (Middle East‪)‬

Turkey is trying to play a larger role in Middle Eastern affairs but is unlikely, despite recent differences, to disrupt traditional alliances with the West, not even with Israel, according to the head of Turkish affairs at the Beirut-based pro-Syrian daily AL AKHBAR. "In a long trip towards a strong Turkey that is European, Islamic, secular, capitalist and nuclear at the same time, Ankara is playing the full role it can play in a new, multi-polar world order," Ernest Khoury wrote in the newspaper on Nov. 2. "There's no problem in having temporary disputes with Israel and engaging in differences that don't grow into disagreements with the United States. It's also okay to have verbal disputes with Russia that end with multi-billion dollar contracts and to use 'strong words' with France and Germany," he said. In October, Turkey disinvited Israel from war games that Ankara holds annually with fellow members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It said the move came in retaliation for Israel's ongoing siege of Gaza. It has also been critical of US occupation of Iraq, and after angering Moscow for taking part in a multi-nation gas pipeline project that eschews Russia, the two countries reached several economic deals. Turkey has long been critical of France and Germany, the dynamos of the European Union, for delaying talks with it about its possible membership in the multination grouping.