[R-G] Ankara Cold to U.S. Warning on Iranian Bank

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

<http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=95039>
Ankara cold to U.S. warning on Iranian bank
Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Turkey says it cannot simply suspend Iran's Bank Mellat operations in
the country upon a U.S. request. 'What binds Turkey are the
resolutions of the United Nations and not U.S. presidential decrees or
congress decisions,' a diplomat says, and Ankara's negative reaction
does not mean Turkey is any less cautious about Iranian nuclear
prospects

SERKAN DEMİRTAŞ
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

A U.S. warning to scrutinize the activities of Turkey-based Iranian
Bank Mellat has not been welcomed by Ankara.

Bank Mellat does not feature in the United Nation's list of
individuals and institutions that assist Tehran's controversial
nuclear program. "What binds Turkey are the resolutions of the U.N.
and not U.S. presidential decrees or congress decisions," a Turkish
diplomat told the Turkish Daily News.

Stuart Levey, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence
at the U.S. Treasury, met Finance Ministry officials Monday in Ankara.
He said: "Special vigilance is required as Iran is being cut off from
major banks in Europe." U.S. officials have told bankers around the
world that Iran is funding terrorists and seeking nuclear technology.
Banks such as UBS AG and Deutsche Bank AG have responded by ending --
or severely reducing -- their business with Iran.

However, in Ankara U.S. requests have not been responded to in a
similar way, according to officials. Stating that foreign banks
operate according to the regulations set by the current Banking Law
and are controlled periodically, the official underlined that the
conditions of suspending one bank's operations are clear.  "Obviously
we cannot move upon a third party's requests," he said.

The Bush administration issued directives last year cutting off three
Iranian banks from the U.S. financial system: Bank Melli, Iran's
largest, Bank Saderat and Bank Mellat. Bank Mellat is the only one of
those with branches in Turkey, operating in the country since 1981
with three branches in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir.

The bank, in a statement posted on its Web site, denied the U.S.
claims and said: "The recent allegations made by the USA against Bank
Mellat have absolutely no justification or legal ground, and are
simply based on illegal and groundless accusations. They are certainly
contrary to international law and thus should have no value or
effect."

Turkey monitors nuclear program

However, the same diplomat said Turkey's negative reaction does not
mean that it is no less cautious against Tehran's nuclear program. "We
are of course monitoring very closely Iran's nuclear work," he said.
Tehran is expected to submit a report on its nuclear program to the
Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Meanwhile,
diplomats told the Turkish Daily News there was no invitation extended
to Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, for an official visit to
Turkey. "According to protocol rules it is their turn but there is no
such visit on our agenda for the time being," the diplomat said.
--
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>