GUL ASSURES PAKISTAN'S ZARDARI OF POST-DISASTER SUPPORT
President Abdullah Gul spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on the phone on Wednesday to discuss Turkey's efforts to help Pakistan in the aftermath of devastating floods. During the conversation, Gul asked Zardari what more could be done for Pakistan, Gul's office said in a statement. Zardari said he appreciates the assistance of the Turkish people and state and that Pakistan would be pleased to see this support continue. The Pakistani president also said Turkey has always supported and helped his country in its hours of need, according to the Pakistani media. Since late July flooding has killed more than 1,600 Pakistanis and left 20 million homeless. To date Turkey has sent $10 million in financial aid and 244 tons of relief support, including vaccines and other medical supplies. Turkey has also sent a 42-member medical team, two fully equipped mobile hospitals, an ambulance and a truck for medical rescue efforts. Turkey's Red Crescent Society (Kizilay) is also poised to build 500 prefab houses and larger tents that will provide long-term protection for people affected by the floods. /Today's Zaman/
DAVUTOGLU: "ARMENIA BORDER WON'T OPEN DURING NATO EXERCISE"
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said yesterday that Turkey will not open its border gate with Armenia temporarily during an upcoming exercise of NATO, signaling a reversal of earlier statements that it was under consideration. "This exercise is for entirely humanitarian purposes and it is about extraordinary circumstances. As a NATO member Turkey will, of course, participate in it," Davutogu told reporters in the Dogansehir district of the central Anatolian province of Konya, when asked to comment about Azerbaijani opposition to a temporary opening of the Turkish-Armenian border. "As I have told the Azeri media earlier, opening of the border, even temporarily, is out of the question. Unnecessary rumors should be avoided," Davutoglu said. Earlier in the day, Davutoglu told an Azerbaijani television that there was no plan to open the border during the exercise. "Our approach with regard to the exercise is humanistic. But there is nothing on the agenda with respect to opening of borders, this is not an issue of debate," Davutoglu told Azerbaijan's ANS television. Ankara has decided to participate in the NATO Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center exercise, set to be held in the central Kotayk region of Armenia. Exercises are scheduled to run between Sept. 11 and 17. In related news, Davutoglu yesterday said that it was imperative the terrorist PKK lay down arms. Davutodlu's remarks came in Dodanhisar, 120 kilometers from the Central Anatolian province of Konya, where he stopped to participate in a rally ahead of the Sept. 12 constitutional referendum. Konya is the foreign minister's hometown. "It is very important that the terrorist organization lay down its arms," said Davutoglu. /Today's Zaman, Hurriyet Daily News/
SARKOZY SAYS FRANCE, TURKEY INVOLVED IN MIDEAST PEACE EFFORTS
France, along with Turkey, is involved in efforts to achieve peace between Syria and Israel, said French President Nicolas Sarkozy, seeking to boost his country's standing in the Middle East by playing a credible role in peace efforts, in a key speech on Wednesday. "Peace between Syria and Israel is equally possible," Sarkozy, outlining his foreign policy goals in a traditional speech to French ambassadors. "France, which has renewed regular dialogue with Damascus that is helpful for the entire region, is involved, alongside Turkey, in seeking an agreement." Syria, which has built close ties with Turkey in recent years, insists Ankara remain a mediator in any new peace talks, while Israel, whose relations with Turkey deteriorated sharply after a bloody Israeli raid on an aid flotilla on May 31, has welcomed French involvement. Syrian President Bashar Assad last month told Turkish journalists that Turkey remains Syria's first choice for mediator and that other countries could only play a supportive role, not an alternative one. But he also suggested that the resumption of talks with Turkish mediation could be difficult if Israel fails to meet Ankara's demands for an apology and compensation for families of the raid victims. "Turkey can't give up on the blood of its nationals for the sake of mediation. Otherwise, it might lose its weight and credibility," said Assad. /Today's Zaman/
TURKEY SEEKS WAYS TO MAINTAIN TRADE TIES WITH IRAN IN THE FACE OF NUCLEAR SANCTIONS
Turkey is looking for ways to maintain its $10 billion trade volume with Iran despite a new round of UN-imposed sanctions. Due to its nuclear program, Iran has come under pressure from many nations, especially the US, which led international efforts at the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions on Tehran despite a nuclear fuel swap deal brokered this May by Turkey and Brazil. The US, Canada and the European Union have all also declared unilateral sanctions against Iran, besides the ones imposed by the UN. Though Washington has urged Turkey to also support these sanctions, Turkey says it will not, but will only abide by the UN sanctions. During a National Security Council (MGK) meeting earlier this month, Turkey's liabilities over the UN resolution imposing new sanctions on Iran (which Turkey voted against), and how those sanctions could impact Turkey's financial and commercial ties, were discussed. More recently, economy bureaucrats discussed a host of scenarios about the sanctions' impact on the private sector and the risk of a deadlock in payment systems. A US delegation recently visited Ankara and discussed with government officials and banking and private sector representatives the impact on Turkey of international and national sanctions against Iran, urging Ankara to support more such sanctions. During a recent meeting convened by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, top economy and energy bureaucrats concluded that no Turkish bank wants to be blacklisted by the US for fear that they could have difficulty finding foreign financing in international markets. Also Turkish firms will be warned not to do business, even indirectly, with companies blacklisted by the US. In related news, Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergun yesterday said that previously agreed economic and trade cooperation projects between Turkey and Iran wouldn't be interrupted by new sanctions, saying that they would determinedly carry through those projects. One such project would establish a major joint industrial zone on Turkey and Iran's shared border. Under the project, Iran would provide energy supplies, with Turkey sharing its technical expertise. Another planned project between Turkey and Iran concerns joint car production. Rich in petroleum and gas resources, Iran has refining problems that could be worsened by the sanctions. Turkey will make preparations in the event that Iran turns to Turkey to solve its refining problems. Despite the sanctions, many companies, including ones from the US and EU member countries, still continue doing business with Iran through alternate channels. During the Iraqi embargo years following the Gulf War in the early 1990s, which cost Turkey billions of dollars, Turkey continued more than 90 percent of exports to Iraq via Jordan. /Sabah/
THY TO CONTRIBUTE $3 BLN TO TURKISH ECONOMY THIS YEAR
Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) forecasts a turnover of some $6 billion this year, almost half of which will be direct contributions to Turkey's economy, the company's CEO, Temel Kotil, said on Wednesday. Speaking at a conference organized by the Canakkale Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTSO), Kotil laid out key elements of THY's corporate success during last year's economic difficulties. "Since 2006, THY has been profitable by adding new flight destinations," he said. "2009 was a year of crisis but thanks to our investments, we were able to continuously advance and so weren't so affected by the crisis. As for 2010, we're targeting a turnover of $6 billion. Of this amount, 44 percent directly goes to domestic companies selling services to us and to salaries, while 10 percent is profits. In short, over 40 percent of our turnover benefits Turkey. We will contribute a net $3 billion this year to the country." THY's sales rose 15 percent to TL 7 billion in 2009 from TL 6.1 billion the previous year. The airline, Europe's fourth-largest carrier, has recently added 24 new destinations to its overseas network, boosting the number of its overseas destinations to 94. THY has also ordered 90 new aircraft, including 12 long-haul Boeing 777s to expand its fleet, Kotil said, adding that this acquisition will increase THY's cargo capacity. /Today's Zaman/
TURKISH TEXTILE FIRMS BECOMING INTL BRANDS, SECTOR LEADER SAYS DURING FASHION WEEK
Events like Istanbul Fashion Week are key to introducing Turkey to international markets and building a better international image for the country, according to the Turkish Textile and Apparel Exporters' Union (ITKIB). The group's Chairman Hikmet Tanriverdi said Wednesday that a government strategy to nationalize textile commodities, particularly cotton, is urgently needed in the textile industry. Speaking in the middle of Istanbul Fashion Week, Tanriverdi said the event represents a series of important opportunities for the Turkish textile and ready-wear sectors. "Turkey used to be a contract manufacturer, but over the last decade it's drastically changed its position," he recounted. "Now, in Russia and the Middle East, Turkish ready-wear brands are selling very well and people are aware of them. Our aim is to spread this brand awareness to the whole world, and we can. We have the potential." He said Turkey doesn't stand a chance in price wars with Far Eastern countries such as Bengal, China or Cambodia. As a result, he said, "We have to produce added value to make a difference, and the easiest way to do that is through design." He added that there are many promising new designers that he has high hopes for. /Hurriyet Daily News/
ISTANBUL TO HOST WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The official opening ceremony of the 2010 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championship, the largest basketball event on the planet, will take place in Istanbul tonight. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, State Minister Faruk Nafiz Ozak and FIBA head Bob Elphinston will participate in the event at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Bakirkoy. During the ceremony, which will be broadcast on 172 different TV channels worldwide, famed circus troupe Cirque du Soleil will perform for the first time in Turkey. Turkish singers and composers Sezen Aksu, Fatih Erkoc and Muslum Gurses as well as Greece's Harris Alexiou and Italian tenor Alessandro Safina will also perform, as will Fire of Anatolia, a Turkish dance group. The 2010 FIBA World Championship will take place simultaneously in four Turkish cities - Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Kayseri - between Aug. 28 and Sept. 12. Around 350,000 people are expected to attend the championship. The first round of the championship, which is returning to Europe for the first time in 12 years, will feature basketball stars such as Boris Diaw, Carlos Arroyo and Anderson Varejao. /Today's Zaman/