ANKARA STEPS UP EURASIA DIPLOMACY

As United States is readying a retaliatory strike on Afghanistan after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic efforts in Eurasia. A senior Turkish diplomat, just back from a trip to Uzbekhistan, flew Sunday to Iran and a trip to yet another regional country was on the agenda, Foreign Ministry sources said. Turkey has had a broad evaluation with Uzbekistan on the recent situation of the Afghan opposition, in a recent meeting in Tashkent held between the visiting Turkish envoy Ambassador Aydemir Erman, leading Turkish expert on the region and the Uzbek Foreign Ministry officials, including the Uzbek foreign minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, Turkish Daily News reports.

Erman was not received by the Uzbek President Islam Karimov, despite former expectations. The evaluations of the Turkish Foreign Ministry were shared during recent talks in Tashkent. Ankara considers Gen. Muhammed Faheem as the main leader of the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, advising caution concerning the expectations from Uzbek Gen. Rashid Dostum, a top Turkish diplomat said.

"The struggle against terrorism would be a long-term one, and we should be realistic and should avoid exaggerating things, such as the role of Uzbek Gen. Rashid Dostum," Turkish officials said. "There are pockets scattered throughout Afghanistan, which are being controlled by different groups, such as Dostum. But when we consider the Faizabad city in Afghanistan, with its charisma and leadership, Faheem seems to be the suitable name to be in control of the Afghan opposition," the Turkish official, who asked not to be named told the Turkish Daily News. Dostum might have a role in the special operations but the role of unifying the opposition politically can be played by Faheem, officials say. After the death of Tajik Gen. Ahmed Shah Massoud, Faheem set about the task of replacing him. Meanwhile, Dostum made remarks to the press saying that he had launched a military campaign against the Taliban. Turkey gave signals that military support would be provided for Afghan opposition and mainly the Uzbek groups, without leaving a cautious approach on Dostum.