TRNC'S 26TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED WITH TOP OFFICIALS PLEDGING ANKARA'S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO TURKISH CYPRIOTS
The 26th anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was celebrated over the weekend with ceremonies in the capital Lefkosa. Speaking at a ceremony marking the anniversary, also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek and Mustafa Isen, the secretary-general of Turkey's Presidency, TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said they have been making intensive efforts to reach a just and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, calling for the Greek Cypriot administration to respect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Stressing that the Cyprus has been a homeland for Turks for nearly 500 years, Talat said that solving the Cyprus issue would be the greatest contribution of both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots to humanity. Stating that Turkey has remarkably raised its international clout and influence in recent years, Talat said Turkey's efforts to solve the issue turned the situation in the Turkish Cypriots' favor. Also speaking at the meeting, Cicek said, "Turkey wants a solution to the Cyprus issue, but this doesn't mean reaching a solution regardless of its shortcomings." Stressing that the current comprehensive negotiations can't go on forever, as the current window of opportunity will close, Cicek said, "Turkey will not support a solution to the issue that could harm the legitimate rights of the Turkish Cypriot people." He also stressed that Turkey will not forsake its rights and responsibilities as a guarantor country and the homeland of the Turkish Cypriots. During the ceremony, President Abdullah Gul's message marking the anniversary was read out as well. In his message, Gul said, "As a guarantor country and the homeland, Turkey will continue to support the Turkish Cypriot people in its struggle for its legitimate rights, freedom and prosperity, and to completely carry out its responsibilities arising from the guarantorship mechanism." Turkiye/
UPCOMING EU TERM PRESIDENT SPAIN PLEDGES TO WORK TO MAKE TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION IRREVERSIBLE
Meeting with his Spanish counterpart Miguel Angel Moratinos in Cordoba over the weekend, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Turkey is very optimistic about Spain's upcoming six-month European Union term presidency starting on Jan. 1. Stating that Turkey and Spain have strategic relations, Davutoglu said that during their meeting they discussed these relations in three categories: bilateral ties, the EU, global and regional cooperation,. Turkey and Spain support the continuation of comprehensive talks to solve the Cyprus issue, Davutoglu said, adding that they plan to expand their cooperation in the Middle East and the Mediterranean basin towards the Balkans, Africa and Latin America. During the meeting, Moratinos pledged that his country will do whatever it can to make Turkey's EU accession process irreversible, adding that they agreed to open the chapters on energy, competition, education and culture during Spain's EU presidency. Davutoglu also asked Spain to support Turkey's fight against the terrorist PKK. /Sabah/
DEAL FOR TURKISH SOUTH STREAM LINE SIGNED
Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday stated that the South Stream Pipeline agreement had been signed by the Russian and Slovenian energy ministers, bringing it one step closer to reality. The project foresees transporting Russian natural gas via pipeline under the Black Sea over Turkey's exclusive economic region to Bulgaria, and from there through one branch to Greece, and through another to Austria over Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia. The project is the biggest competitor of the Nabucco pipeline. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY OFFERS HELP OVERCOMING IRANIAN URANIUM STANDOFF
In a bid to resolve the standoff between Iran and world powers over low-enriched uranium (LEU), Turkey is prepared to offer escrow service, storing LEU in its own territory under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a top Turkish diplomat said over the weekend. "We have a lot of political capital in Tehran, and in the past we helped defuse tension between Iran and world powers," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters en route to Spain to meet with his Spanish counterpart, Miguel Angel Morations. He signaled that Turkey is willing to take up the IAEA suggestion that Iran send its LEU to Turkey, a friendly third country. Telling how Turkey convinced Iran to send a delegation headed by Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili to meet with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who presided as moderator of the 5+1 group (the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany) delegation on Oct. 1, Davutoglu said the dialogue process had reached this point thanks to Turkish efforts and that talks should continue. He stated that last week he had telephone conversations with both IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei and Iranian officials to confirm Turkey's willingness to act as a mediator on the issue in a major drive to prevent the disagreement from escalating into a full-blown crisis and help allay concerns on both sides. Davutoglu reiterated Turkey's policy regarding the nuclear arms issue, saying Ankara is, and has been, against all nuclear weapons, especially in the Middle East. "No matter who possesses these deadly weapons, we are against it," he said, adding that every country has a right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, such as meeting legitimate energy needs. Davutoglu stressed that Turkey prefers negotiations to resolve outstanding issues between Iran and Western powers, saying that military means fall short of accomplishing goals and just complicate matters. "Let's give talks a chance and stick to negotiations," he added. /Today's Zaman/
REPUBLICAN CHOSEN TO HEAD TURKISH-US COUNCIL
Dick Armitage, a moderate Republican who served as US deputy secretary of state under President George W. Bush, has been selected chairman of the American Turkish Council (ATC), the group announced. The ATC is an organization of US and Turkish companies, many of them large defense firms, seeking to bolster defense and business ties between the US and Turkey. Armitage is visiting Ankara this week for meetings with Turkey's top civilian and military leaders. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKISH FILMS AWARDED IN ITALY
"Pandora'nın Kutusu" (Pandora's Box), directed by Turkey's Yesim Ustaoglu, over the weekend received the Euroimage Italy prize, and "Uzak İhtimal" (Remote Possibilty), directed by Mehmet Fazil Coskun, received the special honorable mention prize at the 15th Med Film Festival in Rome which concluded on Saturday. /Cumhuriyet/