AS WORLD MOURNS, GUL SET TO ATTEND POLISH PRESIDENT'S FUNERAL
Polish Ambassador to Ankara Marcin Wilczek yesterday expressed appreciation for President Abdullah Gul's decision to attend the funeral of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a tragic plane crash in Russia last weekend. The funeral will take place in Krakow this Saturday, and many world leaders are expected to be present. Wilczek also said it is very important for the Polish people that Turkey is among the countries mourning and remembering the Polish president. Kaczynski, his wife and over 90 Polish politicians, high-level bureaucrats, military officials and parliamentarians died in the accident. /Sabah/
TOP OFFICIAL FROM INTERIM KYRGYZ GOVT VISITS ANKARA
President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday separately received Almazbek Atambayev, the first deputy prime minister of the Kyrgyz interim government. Atambayev briefed Gul on the latest developments in Kyrgyzstan, and for his part, Gul called for dialogue to overcome the country's problems without creating further tensions. Gul said that Turkey is ready to do all it can to help and support the friendly Kyrgyz nation. Atambayev told a press conference that they will change Kygyzstan's presidential system to a parliamentary one. Later, Erdogan hosted a dinner for Atambayev, with guests including Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Chairman Omer Celik, and Prime Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Hakan Fidan. /Turkiye-Milliyet/
DAVUTOGLU: "AS A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, TURKEY HAS STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT SANCTIONS ON IRAN"
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue, their second meeting this week following talks on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington. The US has recently stepped up efforts to impose tougher sanction on Iran for its controversial nuclear program, and Washington has sought Turkish support for this. But Ankara remains skeptical that tougher sanctions will yield a positive outcome, and is urging a diplomatic solution to the issue. Neither military action nor tougher sanctions, both of which would have a negative impact on Turkey, is the right way to solve the Iranian issue, Davutoglu yesterday told a conference hosted by US think-tank the Council on Foreign relations in Washington, stressing diplomacy as the way out. Stating that Iran is Turkey's second-biggest natural gas supplier and its only gateway to Central Asia, Davutoglu said that an earlier proposal for Iran to send its low-enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment could be revived. In related news, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley yesterday said Turkey is being helpful on the Iranian nuclear issue. He said Turkey and the US have a shared objective, and that no one wants to see Iran emerge as a nuclear state in the Middle East. Stating that Washington understands Ankara's position on the issue well, he said, "Whatever happens involving Iran, Turkey, which borders Iran, will be among the first countries to feel the impact. We respect that. That's why Turkey has been deeply engaged in this process. We have an understanding with Turkey as to what needs to happen from here." Stating that the US disagrees with setting aside tougher sanctions in favor of diplomatic efforts, Crowley added, "Turkey indicated that it will continue to find a way to engage Iran and see if can convince Iran to meet its international obligations under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). And we have made clear that we are consulting with Turkey and working within the Security Council on an appropriate UN Security Council resolution that demonstrates that there is a consequence for Iran's failure to meet its obligations or to respond meaningfully to the offer that was put on the table last September." /Sabah-Aksam
TURKEY TO REACH OUT TO ARMENIAN DIASPORA TO PUSH STALLED NORMALIZATION PROCESS FORWARD
As the international community expects Turkey and Armenia to take steps to open their shared border, Turkey has decided to reach out to the Armenian diaspora to clear the way for further progress in the stalled normalization process between the two countries. Meeting with Turkish mission chiefs in the North American continent, where the Armenian diaspora is most active, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday said, "Normalization between Turkey and Armenia can only be achieved if it includes the Armenian diaspora. This process will reach a successful conclusion along with the Armenian diaspora." In Washington, Davutoglu met with Turkish ambassadors and consuls serving in the US and Canada. During the meeting, Davutoglu was told about differences between diaspora communities in the US and Canada, and asked Turkish representatives to seek dialogue with individuals and diaspora groups to tell them about Turkey's viewpoint. Top Turkish and Armenian leaders met on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit early this week to discuss how to revive the normalization process between their countries, which floundered after a US House committee and the Swedish Parliament adopted resolutions seeking official recognition of the so-called Armenian "genocide" claims. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the historic rapprochement protocols signed last fall, and agreed to work to push the process forward. /Sabah/
FM DAVUTOGLU DUE IN BAKU, TEHRAN NEXT WEEK
Speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington yesterday, the latest of several such meetings in recent days focusing on the Iranian nuclear issue and Turkey and Armenia's stalled normalization process, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that he would visit Azerbaijan early next week and later Iran. For her part, Clinton said there are many issues that Turkey and the US will deal with together, adding that Davutoglu is always willing to solve problems and is available to exchange views on them. Underlining the strong relations between Turkey and her country, Clinton said she trusts these ties will grow stronger in the future. /Turkiye/
STATE MINISTER CAGLAYAN MEETS WITH KAZAKH PM
State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan yesterday met in Almaty with Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov. During the meeting, Masimov stated that he wanted a special trade zone in Kazakhstan devoted exclusively to Turkish businesspeople. For his part, Caglayan said that Turkey is ready to support establishing both vocational schools and courses, and told Masimov about the problems facing Turkish businessmen in Kazakhstan. Masimov will reportedly visit Turkey soon. /Star/