ERDOGAN: "IT'S HIGH TIME TO LIFT THE GAZA BLOCKADE"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday criticized Israel for not agreeing to the establishment of an independent committee to investigate its raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters last week, which left nine Turkish peace activists dead. Speaking at a joint press conference alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad on the sidelines of a two-day summit of Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) which began at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace, Erdogan added that it's high time that Israel end its blockade on the Gaza Strip. Calling Israel's use force against civilians inexcusable, Erdogan also dismissed its account of what happened during the raid. "Israel's excuses (for the incident) are far from believable," he said. "There were peace activists from 32 countries on board the (aid) ships (in the flotilla). They are bothered by a guilty conscience, and trying to cover the truth." Stating that Israel feels impunity from international law in its disproportionate use of force, Erdogan said, "The blockade around Gaza should be completely lifted. This open-air prison should come to an end. We cannot tolerate the inhumane mass punishment of the people of Gaza. We will be closely following developments on this." He also emphasized that both the Mavi Marmara - the Turkish-registered lead ship in last week's flotilla - and the Rachel Corrie - another Gaza-bound aid ship recently intercepted by Israeli naval forces - were transporting humanitarian help to the Gaza Strip and had nothing to do with terrorism, rejecting Israeli claims that there were passengers on board the Mavi Marmara illegally. He also thanked Syria for supporting an international investigation of the incident. Assad, for his part, expressed condolences for the slain peace activists, and voiced support for peace and stability in the region as well as an international commission to investigate the incident. The Syrian leader also emphasized the historic ties between Turkey and Damascus. /Aksam/
TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN SIGN THREE STRATEGIC DEALS ON NATURAL GAS
Three long-awaited natural gas supply deals between Turkey and Azerbaijan were signed yesterday in Istanbul by the energy ministers of the two countries, strengthening Turkey's strategic bid to become an energy hub in the region. Over 39 negotiation sessions, Turkey and Azerbaijan hammered out the agreements for the shipment of natural gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to Turkey. Under the deals signed yesterday, Turkey will import more gas from Shah Deniz, up to 12 billion cubic meters annually. The deals also set the terms for the transit of Azeri gas to European countries and addressed price adjustments for the gas for Turkey. The deals were signed by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz and Azeri Industry and Energy Minister Natiq Aliyev during the third summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA). The signing ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, along with executives of the state-owned Turkish Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS) and the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). "This agreement carries great importance for both Turkey and the EU's energy supply security," Yildiz told the ceremony. Analysts expect the project to eventually reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russia. Yildiz added that the deals pave the way for agreements like the Nabucco pipeline project. /Today's Zaman/
DAVUTOGLU: "IF IT HAS NOTHING TO HIDE, ISRAEL SHOULD AGREE TO PROBE ON SHIP RAID"
In strongly worded remarks, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday said that Turkey will not let Israel get away with the killing of nine activists on a Gaza-bound aid ship by Israeli commandos, reiterating Ankara's stance that the issue is between Israel and the conscience of the international community. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has proposed the establishment of an international commission to investigate the lethal Israeli operation, which led to an international uproar and intensified calls for an end to the Israeli blockade of the impoverished Gaza Strip. However, Israel swiftly rejected the proposal. "The international community is facing a serious test: Does a country have the right to intercept a ship in international waters or not? This is a question that has priority," Davutoglu told a joint news conference with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Davutoglu met with Afghanistan's Zalmai Rassoul and Pakistan's Shah Mehmood Qureshi as part of a trilateral process launched in 2007 at Turkey's initiative. The trilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of a summit of a 20-member Asian security forum, the Conference on Interactions and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), which began at Istanbul's Ciragan Palace yesterday. Telling how Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports Ban's proposal, which he called "active and preemptive," Davutoglu continued, "If Israel rejects this proposal, prevents this commission's work and ignores its findings, then Israel has to account for its actions before international law." Davutoglu then said, "(But) if they aren't avoiding it, if they believe that a crime has been committed by the ship's passengers, if they have the conviction that they protected their interests and rights, then let them stand up and declare that they accept this international commission. If they don't accept this international commission, it means that they have something to hide." Turkey, which had a solid alliance with Israel until the three-week Gaza war that ended in early 2009, said it would reduce military and trade ties and shelve discussions on energy projects, including natural gas and fresh water shipments. It threatened to break ties unless Israel apologizes for the raid. "We are evaluating everything. It is up to Israel how our ties will continue," Davutoglu said. "Israel has to accept the consequences of its actions and be held accountable." Davutoglu further underlined that "normalization of Turkish-Israeli relations is out of the question" unless Israel abides by international law. He said Turkey would pursue accountability in the killing of nine of its citizens in the raid. Turkey, protecting not only the rights of its own citizens but also the rights of humanity, is ready to respond to all questions on this issue, Davutoglu said. "If some countries are above or outside the jurisdiction of international law and are seen this way by the international community, then this should also be openly declared," he said. "Then we should also know to what extent international law functions on the high seas." In related news, Ankara is seeking unity from CICA members in condemning the Israeli attack. /Today's Zaman/
TURKEY SIGNS JOINT COMMITTEE AGREEMENT WITH PALESTINE
President Abdullah Gul yesterday met with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Istanbul. Prior to the meeting, an agreement to establish a joint committee between the two countries was signed by Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad el-Maliki. Under the agreement, Turkey will train Palestinian diplomats, and there will also be cooperation on education, health and economic matters. /Turkiye/
ISTANBUL TO HOST ARAB ECONOMIC FORUM ON THURSDAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to open the Turkish-Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul on Thursday with the participation of the Arab League and representatives of Arab countries' governments. The forum, which more than 3,000 businessmen and 300 institutions are expected to attend, is to be the fifth meeting since its establishment in 2005. At the forum, Erdogan is expected to call on Arab countries to invest in Turkey and to cooperate more with Turkey. In related news, a Turkish-Arab Finance Special Session will be held with the participation of Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek and Arab finance ministers. /Turkiye/