EU says Georgia crisis fortifies importance of Turkey

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said Turkey's diplomacy is helping solve political problems in the region and is also forging new ties between Syria and Europe.

Rehn described the EU candidate country as an important bridge between Europe and the Islamic world, saying it is also trying to help improve relations between Israel and the Palestinians.

"In other words, everything that has happened in recent weeks has only strengthened Turkey's strategic importance from the EU's point of view," Rehn told reporters in Helsinki on Friday.

Ankara has intensified its diplomatic efforts for the Caucasus region as well as Middle East since the Georgia-Russia war in August.

Turkey has proposed the formation of Caucasian alliance to help the resolution of conflicts through dialogue. Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are planned to take part in this new formation.

Alarmed by Moscow's war with Tbilisi, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan embarked on shuttle diplomacy in the Caucasus.

President Abdullah Gul also visited Armenia for a soccer match in an effort to reduce almost a century of hostilities between the two countries with no diplomatic ties.

Turkey is mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria.

It has also offered to try to help resolve the dispute between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at developing atomic weapons.

"Turkey wants to leave its diplomatic footprint and become a regional player," said Hugh Pope, an author on Turkey and an analyst for the International Crisis Group, told Reuters.

"It is a question of prestige and it has brought peace with its neighbors but Turkey will have to soft-pedal on its foreign policy if it wins a seat at the United Nations," he added.

Turkey hosted a meeting of Caribbean nations and a summit of African leaders this summer, events linked to its desire to win a Security Council seat.

Photo: AP