Israel's Olmert urges Turkey for economic sanctions to force Iran to review nuclear program

Olmert arrived in Turkey late Wednesday for a two-day visit, hoping to discuss ways to rein in Iran's suspected efforts to build nuclear weapons. The U.N. Security Council has imposed limited sanctions on Iran, but many countries are reluctant to go further and cut all trade ties to the energy-rich country. Washington has urged European nations to follow the U.S. in cutting such ties with Tehran.

"If economic sanctions were imposed, Iran would be forced to review its position," Olmert said in an apparent reference to a more robust approach to sanctions.

"I believe that Turkey and many other countries will need to change their ties with Iran," he said in an interview with Turkey's Milliyet newspaper. Turkey buys natural gas from Iran.

The U.N. Security Council agreed in December to impose sanctions targeting people and programs linked to Iran's nuclear program, which the United States, the European Union and others fear is being used to make weapons. Under the Dec. 23 decision, Iran was given two months to return to negotiations.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was expected to press Olmert to ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Erdogan criticized Israel for allowing construction near a disputed holy site in Jerusalem a day before Olmert's arrival.

Olmert said he expected productive talks with Turkish leaders.

"We have good relations, we speak frequently, and I'm looking forward to talking with them," Olmert said Wednesday. Olmert was scheduled to meet with Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Thursday before returning home.

Olmert told Milliyet newspaper that Erdogan was misinformed about the construction in Jerusalem, insisting the work was nowhere near the holy site.

"I will show Erdogan photographs of the construction," the paper quoted Olmert as saying. "We will not touch any place that is sensitive to Islam."

Turkey's Islamic government has good relations with both Syria and Hamas, the militant Islamic group that heads the Palestinian government, and also with Iran, with which it shares a long border.

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat, suspecting that Iran is building nuclear weapons, despite its denials. Iran's president has repeatedly called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Olmert hopes to enlist Turkey in accelerated efforts to keep Iran from going nuclear.

Ankara will likely press Olmert to work with a new Palestinian government after last week's agreement by Hamas to join a national unity government with the more moderate Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel and the West have reserved judgment, insisting that any Palestinian government must recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous peace deals.

Israel, the United States and European Union ban contact with Hamas, which they label a terror group. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/