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ISTANBUL-A visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Turkey on Thursday reflects a desire by the NATO member to remain on good terms with an unpredictable neighbor and secure future energy needs.President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have come under criticism at home and abroad for inviting Ahmadinejad, a visit that marks a diplomatic coup for the firebrand leader who has been shunned by European countries. Ankara has said his visit was necessary given the standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran's disputed nuclear enrichment program, and offered to help resolve the dispute.But analysts said the trip was more about ensuring centuries-old ties during a period of global tensions. "Although Turkey doesn't like the present regime it has always tried to keep Iranians both at bay and collaborate with them. It is an extremely delicate balancing act and it will continue to be so," said Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University."The visit is all about controlled risks and the most important aspect is a gas deal with Iran, not the nuclear program because Turkey has little influence on that," he said.Turkey and Iran share a border dating to a 1639 peace treaty.Ahmadinejad has been courting Turkey in the past few years as the United States has stepped up efforts to isolate Iran for failing to halt its disputed nuclear enrichment program. Washington sees the president's visit as undermining such moves. Israel, another ally of Turkey, has also criticized the visit.To read more go to:
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