GUL DENIES ISRAELI CLAIMS THAT HE ASKED TO MEET WITH PERES IN NEW YORK
President Abdullah Gul yesterday lashed out at Israeli claims that he had proposed to his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres that they meet on the sidelines of the current 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. The Israeli administration's motives are hard to understand, said Gul, adding that it was they who asked for a meeting, but later backtracked. "In response we said whatever you say, but the Israeli side told the media that they had turned down Turkey's request for a meeting," Gul said, adding that he had not had any meeting scheduled with Peres. Stating that later Israeli media reports claimed that he would meet with his Iranian counterpart but declined to meet with Peres, Gul denied this, saying, "I don't understand this mentality . They should calm down and think about what they're doing." The Clinton Foundation, run by former President Bill Clinton, also planned to bring the two leaders together on a panel, said Gul, adding that this was only a plan and he would have declined the invitation in any case. On Israel's aid flotilla raid in May, which left nine Turkish peace activists dead, Gul said, "There is an incident still open, but the Israelis seem to still be unaware of this. They should think about how Turkish-Israeli ties got to this point and how this could be overcome. We're not content with the current situation of our ties with Israel, but we didn't cause this situation." Israel must accept its fault, apologize, and pay compensation to the raid victims, and then the countries can talk about normalizing ties, Gul said. The Foreign Ministry and Presidential Press Office also released statements denying the Israeli claims. /Milliyet, Star/
PRESIDENT GUL TO URGE INTL COMMUNITY TO PUSH FOR A NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE MIDEAST
Echoing earlier urgings by Turkish leaders for the international community to take a consistent approach on the issue, President Abdullah Gul on Monday said he will call for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East when he addresses the UN General Assembly tomorrow. "We would like to see our region free of nuclear weapons," Gul told the Associated Press. "The region should not be under such a threat." Gul has called for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East in the past, but his latest comments come amid deteriorating relations with Israel, following a deadly Israeli flotilla raid in May. Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East but has never confirmed or denied it. Gul's remarks are expected to antagonize the United States, since Washington sees any move to raise the issue of Israel's
nuclear arsenal as potentially destabilizing at a time of renewed Israel-Palestinian peace talks. /Today's Zaman/
ERDOGAN, MERKEL TO WATCH NATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCH TOGETHER NEXT MONTH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will watch a UEFA European Football Championship 2012 qualifying match between Turkey and Germany next month in Berlin. During Erdogan's Oct. 8-9 visit to Germany, top issues include a planned Turkish-German university in Istanbul as well as Turkey's European Union accession process. Merkel is known for her opposition to Turkey's EU membership. /Hurriyet/
TURKEY REACHES OUT TO LDCs, URGES MORE SOLIDARITY
Poorly developed countries feel the negative effects of globalization most acutely, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Monday, urging nations to show solidarity in assisting poor countries. Davutoglu made the comments at a reception hosted by Turkey in New York ahead of today's meeting of Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) at the United Nations, saying that the LDCs occupy an important place in the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Speaking to officials, Davutoglu said that while striving for global peace and welfare, no country should be subject to discrimination, and stressed that every country is part of the voice of humanity. Saying that the LDCs feel the negative impact of globalization most acutely, Davutoglu said every country needs to work to assist poorer countries, and that in line with this obligation, Turkey will continue to contribute and assist the LDCs. Turkey will host the five-day Fourth United Nations Conference on Least-Developed Countries early next year. /Today's Zaman/
EP REPORT CALLS FOR MORE TRADE WITH TURKEY
A new European Parliament report urges the European Union to cut red tape holding back trade with Turkey, as well as to eliminate non-tariff obstacles and remove inequities stemming from the Customs Union with the EU candidate country. Prepared by Metin Kazak, an ethnic Turkish Bulgarian MEP, the non-binding report passed with the support of 602 deputies. However, the report also criticizes Turkey for its treatment of foreign companies in public procurement, and for refusing to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic. /Cumhuriyet/
TPAO ANNOUNCES $4 BLN IN OIL EXPLORATION OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS
Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) CEO Mehmet Uysal yesterday said they plan to invest $4 billion in oil exploration both inside and outside Turkey over the next three years. Speaking at a conference in Ankara, Uysal said if current drilling proves successful in finding oil, they will boost their investments in the area from $10 billion to $15 billion. He added that they also plan to explore for oil in the Mediterranean, much as they are doing in the Black Sea. "We hope exciting days of exploration will begin in the Mediterranean through partnerships in 2015," he said, explaining that they will start with seismic research and analysis to assess the potential and then look for private partners, as they did with the Black Sea. /Today's Zaman/
GERMAN BUSINESS LEADER: "EASED VISA REGIME WILL MAKE TURKISH INVESTMENTS SKYROCKET"
Germany's visa regime has started to tarnish its image abroad and make it lose investments, German-Turkish Industry and Trade Chamber (AHK) head Franz Koller said yesterday. "Rejections of visa applications or granting only short-term business visas have caused delays and cancellations of many planned foreign investments," he said. But easing the country's strict visa regime would open the way for Turkish investments to boom in Germany, he explained. Pointing out that Germany is one of Turkey's biggest trade partners, Koller stressed the need to create a suitable environment for ties between Turkish and German companies to flourish. Germany's tight visa regime leaves Turks alienated from Germany, harming its position as the number one foreign destination for Turks to take vacations, seek business, and get an education, he added. /Hurriyet/
TURKISH AID TRAIN LEAVES FOR FLOOD-STRICKEN PAKISTAN
A Turkish train carrying humanitarian aid for flood-stricken Pakistan left from the western province of Manisa on Tuesday. The train is loaded with 440 tons of aid, including 190 tons of food, 150 tons of flour, and 100 tons of water. Speaking at the train's departure, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said that Turkey is one of the countries taking the lead in helping Pakistan, adding that they are also planning to build permanent housing for people who lost their homes in the flood disaster. /Hurriyet/