US moves against Iran not binding for Turkey

Emine Kart ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

US Department of the Treasury’s Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen visits Turkey and meets with officials across the Turkish government. REUTERS Photo

The Turkish capital has reiterated its well-known position on the implementation of sanctions aimed at convincing Iran to address concerns about its nuclear program, during a visit by a senior U.S. official.

“There was no specific demand from the U.S. side,” a Turkish diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News Sept. 7, when asked about a Sept. 4 to 5 visit to Ankara by U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. For two days, Cohen met with officials across the Turkish government, as well as representatives of the Turkish financial sector.

Chapter 7

Cohen informed Turkish officials about his country’s Iran sanctions law and executive orders authorized under this law, the diplomat said. “Even if there had been a specific demand on the table, we would have reiterated our position clearly like we did several times in the past. We are legally bound only by the related U.N. Security Council resolution,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Resolution 1747 banned arms exports by Iran under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which allows the Security Council to authorize actions ranging from diplomatic and economic sanctions to military intervention. “We are not legally bound to any unilateral decisions by the United States against Iran,” the diplomat said.

“In a series of productive meetings with officials from the government and financial sector, Cohen discussed the importance of the Turkish financial sector as part of the global effort to implement international sanctions intended to convince Iran to address concerns about its nuclear program,” the embassy said. “In discussions concerning terrorist financing in the region, Cohen underscored the importance of U.S. and Turkey efforts to safeguard the U.S., Turkish, and international financial sector from abuse by terrorist groups.”