ANKARA HITS BACK AT BRUSSELS OVER CYPRUS CRITICISM
While again vowing to step up efforts towards European Union membership, Turkey yesterday expressed disappointment over an EU statement, saying that its wording on the Cyprus issue is at odds with international law. During an annual debate on enlargement held by EU states in Brussels on Tuesday, the bloc expressed "deep regret" about Turkey`s continued impasse with EU member Greek Cyprus and pressed Ankara to show improvement "without further delay." In a statement yesterday, the Foreign Ministry pointed to Turkey`s "constructive and encouraging stance" to ongoing UN-led direct negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders. "Yet despite this," continued the statement, the EU text "contains expressions that are incompatible with international law due to the irrational attitude again shown this year by one member state," in reference to Greek Cyprus. "As the place to resolve the Cyprus issue is not in EU Council Enlargement Conclusions but rather in ongoing comprehensive negotiations conducted under the auspices of the UN secretary-general, it is our genuine expectation that our EU member friends strongly support the process," it added. /Today`s Zaman/
UN RESOLUTION "DEFICIENT," CHARGES TRNC
A new United Nations Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the peacekeeping force on Cyprus is "deficient," said Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun yesterday. As the resolution fails to call on the international community to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people, "it is deficient, and this attitude contradicts the Security Council`s views that the ongoing Cyprus talks should be sped up," said Ozgurgun in a statement. The Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus through next June. /Hurriyet Daily News/
UN EXTENDS CYPRUS MISSION DESPITE TURKEY`S OBJECTIONS
Arguing that it ignores the Turkish Cypriot presence on the divided island, Turkey on Tuesday cast the lone negative vote on a UN Security Council resolution extending the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force on Cyprus (UNFICYP). Council resolutions, from the one first setting up the UNFICYP to subsequent extensions of its mandate, are still being drafted "as if there is only one side on the island," Turkish Ambassador to the UN Ertugrul Apakan said at the meeting. "There has not been a joint and constitutional government representing the whole of Cyprus since 1963," he argued. "For over 47 years, treating the Greek Cypriot government as the government of the whole island has been the main obstacle to finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution." Apakan also charged that the resolution failed to reflect the views of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said in a recent report that the ongoing Cyprus talks cannot be open-ended and that a critical window of opportunity is rapidly closing. "We believe that the resolution should have carried a stronger message towards this end," said Apakan. In the resolution extending the peacekeeping mission through next June, the council also urged Cyprus` leaders to press stronger on negotiations to reunify the island. /Today`s Zaman/
BRITAIN FIGHTS AGAINST DELAYS IN TURKEY`S EU BID
Amid political blocks to Turkey`s European Union accession bid, Britain and its allies Tuesday led a counter-charge to open the door to further expansion in the interests of added economic leverage. "We need to be bold, we need to be true to the vision that inspired the (EU`s) enlargement process," said Britain`s Europe Minister David Lidington at an annual debate on enlargement. A statement adopted by European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday "reaffirms the strong support of the EU for taking the enlargement process forward," including a phrase added at Britain`s insistence underlining the importance of "the continued credibility of this process." In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the foreign ministers` "Enlargement Conclusions" set to be presented to an EU summit next week, and objected only to the section on Cyprus. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKISH DIPLOMAT APPOINTED TO KEY UN POST
Ambassador Levent Bilman, newly appointed to a senior UN post, is the latest Turkish diplomat to boost Turkey`s visibility in multilateral diplomacy with posts at international organizations, with Ankara hailing the move as "a concrete sign of Turkey`s soft power." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Bilman, currently ambassador to India, to head the Policy and Mediation Division at the UN Department of Political Affairs (UNDPA) under the helm of UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe. Ban officially notified Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of the appointment during a bilateral meeting in New York on Tuesday. The Foreign Ministry hailed the decision, saying that it will strengthen Turkey`s contributions to the UN. "Turkey`s recently rising success in international organizations is impressive," added the ministry. "This success is a concrete sign of Turkey`s becoming more active and of its soft power … and manifests Turkey`s initiatives towards mediation and its unique position." /Today`s Zaman/
NEW IRANIAN FM TO MAKE FIRST FOREIGN TRIP TO TURKEY
Iran`s new acting Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi is to accompany President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a regional summit in Turkey next week, his first foray abroad since taking up the job, the Mehr news agency reported yesterday. "Mr. Salehi will accompany the president on his visit to Turkey," the Iranian ambassador in Ankara told Mehr. "It will be the first visit abroad by the acting foreign minister." Salehi, who was appointed on Monday after Ahmadinejad fired Manouchehr Mottaki in an apparent falling out over nuclear policy, retains his previous position as chief negotiator in talks on the issue with major Western powers. /Hurriyet Daily News/
TURKEY TO BUY OIL FROM NIGERIA, GHANA IN BARTER SCHEME
Turkey will be purchasing oil from Nigeria and Ghana through a barter scheme arrangement, State Minister for Foreign Trade Zafer Caglayan announced yesterday following visits to those countries. Officials in both countries expressed interest in the arrangement, in which Turkey will make investments in tourism, energy, health and infrastructure in exchange for oil. Caglayan`s meeting with Ghanaian Vice President John Dramani Mahama marked Turkey`s first official ministerial-level visit to that country in a decade. Caglayan, speaking about his visit to Ghana accompanied by some 100 businessmen, said Mahama had praised Turkey`s economic success at a time when most European countries are still mired in crisis. Mahama also said his government is closely watching democratic and political developments in Turkey. Mahama added that direct flights between Turkey and Ghana would help boost relations and that joint projects by businessmen from both countries would offer great opportunities. Caglayan said Turkey wants to contribute to Ghana`s development and commercial growth, adding that Turkish contractors are very interested in its construction sector. During his visit, Caglayan also attended a Ghana-Turkey Business Forum. /Today`s Zaman/
RUSSIAN DEPUTY FM TOUTS AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEAL
A Russian deal to build a nuclear power plant in Turkey, and to be responsible for its security and safety, training its personnel, and its proper use, will be a project spanning 60 years, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin yesterday. "It`s a unique project," said Sechin at Istanbul`s Ciragan Palace, at a seminar on the new Akkuya power plant. "We will provide all guarantees and financing for the project, which costs $10 billion. We will inspire Turkish industry." Secin, alongside Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, added that much of the plant would be built by Turkish contractors. The deal for the plant was signed in May, and construction is set to begin in 2013. /Hurriyet/
TURKEY, CROATIA PUSH FOR STRONGER BUSINESS TIES
Turkey and Croatia made a joint decision to increase business and trade relations during the Turkish-Croatian Business Council, held in Istanbul yesterday. The council, active since 1995, works to maintain long-term cooperation between the two countries. Cagatay Ozdogru, chief of the Turkish council, said Croatia is "a strategic partner in its region" for Turkey. Bilateral cooperation should focus especially on industry, construction and tourism, according to Zlatan Frohlich, chairman of the Croatia-Turkey Business Council. Frohlich said that the popularity of Turkish TV series in Croatia may help fuel tourism. Trade between the two countries fell from $434 million in 2008 to $330 million in 2009, amid the world economic crisis. Speaking at the conference, Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said both sides hope to boost this figure to $1 billion by 2013. /Hurriyet Daily News/