TURKEY ASKS GREECE TO DROP AEGEAN TERRITORIAL CLAIMS
Athens should give up its claims over disputed Aegean Sea territory in return for Ankara changing its national security policy to remove Greece from its threat list, argued Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday. "Turkey will not take a unilateral step on the 12-mile issue," Davutoglu told news channel NTV, referring to any possible move by Athens to expand its territorial waters to 12 miles offshore, which Turkey opposes. Saying that Turkey has made serious changes in its relations with its neighbors, Davutoglu added that bilateral steps by Turkey and Greece would improve the two countries' attitudes toward each other. "There is a detente in relations," he said. "Our new approach emphasizes vision over threats." He added, however, that Turkey expects Greece to reverse claims on the Aegean made by the Greek Parliament, and that the Turkish government and military are united on this point. "We have one foreign policy, not two," Davutoglu said. Turkish media reported last week that in one of the most significant security reviews since the Cold War, Ankara is set to remove Russia, Iran, Iraq and Greece from a list of countries considered threats to national security. The change to the country's National Security Document, also known as the "secret constitution," is seen as an outgrowth of the "zero problems with neighbors" foreign policy championed by Davutoglu. The government, National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and General Staff have been working on adjustments to the document, which includes both internal and external threats to national security, and are expected to be completed next month. /Hurryyet Dayly News/
TURKEY TO TAKE HELM OF SECURITY COUNCIL FOR ONE MONTH
Turkey, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, will take over the council's presidency today for a second one-month term, during which time it will head two high-level UN meetings. President Abdullah Gul will chair a UN meeting on Sept. 23 on peacekeeping, and a statement prepared by Turkey is expected to be adopted at the end of that meeting. The second meeting, on the global fight against terrorism, will be held on Sept. 27 with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as chair, and it, too, is expected to adopt a statement. Turkey has headed the council's Counter-Terrorism Committee since the beginning of the year, and previously held the term presidency in June 2009. The Security Council will convene tomorrow to draw up September's schedule. Turkish Ambassador to the UN Ertugrul Apakan will also hold a press conference about the remainder of Turkey's council membership, set to end on Jan. 1. /Hurryyet Dayly News/
NYT EDITORIAL URGES OBAMA TO SEEK TURKEY'S SUPPORT FOR RENEWED MIDEAST PEACE PUSH
For a renewed push for peace in the Mideast to be successful, US President Barack Obama must seek Turkey's support, argued a New York Times editorial on Monday. After a two-year standstill, direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis are expected to resume on Thursday after Obama hosts a White House dinner for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordan's King Abdullah, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, representing the Mideast Quartet. "That (dinner) will make for a fine ceremony and important symbolism," continued the editorial, "but Mr. Obama's involvement cannot end there. He needs to keep pressing everybody - his dinner guests and other regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey - to stand behind peace efforts." In related news, Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Meshaal called for Turkey to continue supporting efforts to solve the Palestinian issue and Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as to end Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Meshaal also called Turkey a powerful country playing a key role in the region. /Star, Milliyet/
DOWNPLAYING PAID LOBBYING EFFORTS, TURKEY PLANNING TO RALLY TURKS LIVING IN AMERICA
Ankara is set to focus less on efforts by professional lobbyists while relying more on the US Turkish diaspora to be the face of Turkey before the US Congress, announced Turkish Ambassador to the US Namik Tan on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Tan said that under newly renegotiated contracts with two lobbying firms that represent it, Ankara will pay 20 percent less to the firms. Eager to forge closer contacts with the Obama administration, Ankara will adopt a new communications strategy on Capitol Hill which Ambassador Tan called "meeting with all circles." While admitting that the Obama administration has met resistance in persuading Congress to approve new weapons sales to Turkey, Tan called claims of a US arms embargo on Turkey "groundless." In addition to efforts to diversify channels of official communication with the US administration and to get the US-based Turkish diaspora involved in unofficial lobbying activities, Ankara is also trying to mend fences with the Israeli lobby, which is seen as the main reason for the recent problems in Congress. Towards that end, a Foreign Ministry delegation led by Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu - which last week had talks with senior State, Defense and Commerce Department officials - also met with representatives of some Jewish groups in Washington. /Today's Zaman/
PM'S WIFE EMINE ERDOGAN SET TO DELIVER DONATIONS TO VICTIMS OF PAKISTANI FLOOD
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's wife Emine, who recently spearheaded efforts to raise TL 4 million in donations for the suffering people of flood-stricken Pakistan in cooperation with Turkish Businesswomen's Association (TIKAD), is set to arrive in Pakistan today with a delegation to deliver the donations. Speaking to reporters, TIKAD head Nilufer Bulut said the charity fast-breaking dinner they hosted in Istanbul last week to benefit relief efforts was very successful, and raised TL 3 million in cash donations and TL 1 million in medical supplies. Stating that Mrs. Erdogan put her heart and soul into efforts to raise aid for the Pakistani people, Bulut criticized international relief efforts so far as inadequate, and called for Turkey to spearhead aid efforts for Pakistan. After large parts of Pakistan were submerged last month by floodwaters, displacing some 20 million people, the Turkish government and private groups launched major aid campaigns. /Sabah/
DENMARK TAKES LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ROJ-TV FOR ACTING AS TERRORIST PKK MOUTHPIECE
Denmark yesterday began legal action against Roj-TV, a terrorist-affiliated station which Turkey has long complained the Danish government has turned a blind eye to. Danish chief Prosecutor Joergen Steen Soerensen accused Roj-TV of supporting and encouraging the activities of the terrorist PKK and its Kongra-Gel branch. Danish Justice Minister Lars Barfoed welcomed the action, saying that now Danish courts will make a ruling about the station. In related news, speaking to reporters yesterday, Turkish Ambassador to the US Namik Tan praised Washington's support for Turkey's fight against the terrorist PKK, but urged the US government to take more tangible steps against the terrorist group. "We expect the US government to do more to capture terrorist PKK leaders, as everyone knows where they are and what they're doing." He also asked Washington to encourage European allies to work more closely with Turkey against the terrorist group. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY LEADS GROUP C ON THIRD DAY OF WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Turkey maintained its position as the leader of Group C of the FIBA 2010 World Basketball Championship at the end of third day games on Tuesday. After defeating Greece 76-65 in Ankara, Turkey now has won three out of three games and so guaranteed its way out of the group. In the other Group C games on Tuesday, Russia defeated Ivory Coast 72-66, while Puerto Rico beat China 84-76. /Today's Zaman/