Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey sweep, June 3

Armenia

1. Armenian newspaper Alik published in Iran published an editorial today. It notes that “If Israel violates the rights of the Palestinian people”, Turkey has been blockading Armenia for 15 years.

2. Armenia's leading media associations have demanded yesterday the release of a young reporter arrested while covering an opposition protest in Yerevan. Police allege that the reporter, a correspondent for the pro-opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak," assaulted a police officer during a confrontation between security forces and opposition activists trying to enter Yerevan's Liberty Square on May 30.

3. The Armenian reporter that was arrested while covering an opposition protest was released from custody today.

Azerbaijan

1. Talks between the Azerbaijani and Belarus presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Alyaksandr Lukashenka, took place in Baku today.

2. Azerbaijan and Belarus have today signed several bilateral documents, including agreements in the fields of environmental protection, science, investment…

3. SOCAR offered an alternative option to develop the Shah Denis Phase 2 project in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian, which will enable to speed up production in the field by 2014, SOCAR First Vice President Yusifzadeh said to the 17th International Caspian Oil and Gas exhibition and conference in Baku.

4. DEPA Greek Gas Corporation Chairman and Executive Director Harry Sachinis said today at the Seventeenth International Caspian Oil and Gas Conference in Baku "After signing the agreement on transit with Turkey, Azerbaijan will be ready to supply gas to Europe. [...] We are ready to receive the Azerbaijani gas, but the question is, in what amount".

5. International Gas Infrastructure head at the Italian Edison company Elio Ruggeri said at the Seventeenth International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference that the ITGI pipeline project traversing Turkey, Greece and Italy is ready to bring Azerbaijani gas to European

markets. "We are ready to buy Azerbaijani gas, and are ready to supply this gas to European markets," he said.

6. SOCAR and German company Lanser have signed today a 25 year production sharing agreement on Absheron Peninsula oil fields. Under the terms of the agreement, the German company will have a 75% share in the development of the Balakhani, Sabunchi, Ramana and Kurdakhani structures while the Azerbaijani side owns a 25% share. Recoverable reserves are 7.3m tones.

7. A jailed Azerbaijani journalist says he will go on hunger strike to demand authorities comply with a ruling by the European Court for Human Rights to release him from jail. On April 22, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said Azerbaijan had violated Fatullayev's rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial and called on Baku to release him.

8. U.S. Secretary of State Robert Gates will visit Azerbaijan on June 6 - 7, where he will discuss bilateral cooperation with Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev.

Georgia

1. Georgian police have arrested five people on charges of involvement in an international drug cartel that transported cocaine from Latin America through Georgia for further distribution in Turkey and Europe.

2. Georgian and American soldiers are taking joint trainings in Poti. The submarine operations have been underway in the base of the Poti coastal guards since today. The U.S. military warship will leave Georgian water space on June 9.

3. The French national assembly presented today a report on the situation in the South Caucasus, including the situation in Georgia. It asks for a greater involvement of the EU to solve the problems of Georgia and according to Georgian Ambassador to France, “They openly say that Russia must fulfill its commitments and withdraw its troops from Georgian territory. Afterwards, talks on the conflict issues must be renewed”.

4. Romanian President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday: “In respect of Romania's position, I would like to be extremely clear that we have not changed our stance as regards Georgia from the NATO Summit in Bucharest. We consider that Georgia can, even under current conditions, be awarded the Membership Action Plan and, as such, to benefit of a clear time horizon to join NATO”.

5. Meetings on the prevention of tension in the region to discuss the situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict began in Ergneti. The meeting is held under the UN auspices with the EU observers' participation.

6. Georgia's Central Election Commission yesterday released the final results of municipal elections that show President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement won the May 30

poll. The United National Movement received almost 66 percent of the votes and its candidate, incumbent Gigi Ugulava, won the first-ever election for mayor of the capital, Tbilisi.

Turkey

1. A joint news conference held by Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Mas'ud Barzani and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara, the two leaders answered questions about several issues. Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Mas'ud Barzani said “We are ready for all types of cooperation [with Turkey]... We are very sad about the bloodshed of Kurds and Turkish citizens of Turkey... We have to work towards ending the bloodshed."

2. Turkey and Azerbaijan will sign an agreement on natural gas from the Shah Deniz fields next week, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said. Azerbaijan and Turkey’s planned gas accord will foster exports, aiding partners led by BP Plc and Statoil ASA to make an investment decision on a $20 billion Caspian Sea project, the Azerbaijani state energy producer said.

3. The lawyers of retired Gen. Çetin Doğan on Wednesday demanded testimony from Hilmi Özkök, a former Chief of General Staff, related to the charges brought against their client.Doğan is the former commander of the 1st Army and among the top suspects in the “Sledgehammer” case - an alleged military coup plot against the leading Justice and Development Party, or AKP, drafted in 2003.

4. Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi was invited by the Turkish and Kazakh leaders to attend a confidence-building conference scheduled to be hosted by Istanbul on June 8.

5. According to Turkish Ambassador to Macedonia Arslan Hakan Okcal, Turkey is supporting Macedonia on the road to NATO and the EU, as well as in its name dispute with Greece.

6. A top Catholic Church official in Turkey was stabbed to death in his home on Thursday. The reports said Vicar Apostolic for the Anatolia region, Bishop Luigi Padovese, was killed by a driver in the bishop's home in Iskenderun.

7. Suspected killer of Roman Catholic bishop Luigi Padovese was captured. The killer had been Padovese's driver for the last for four and a half years.

8. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday that Turkey plans to expand business ties with the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Two major Turkish banks will soon open branches Kurdistan and state-run Turkish Airlines will add the regional capital of Erbil to its list of destinations.

9. According to sources close to a meeting between Turkish premier and Head of the Kurdish regional administration in Iraq's north Barzani, Barzani has vowed support for Turkey in Ankara's fight against PKK militants as he meets Turkish leaders.

10. At joint press conference, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, that they were satisfied with cooperation with the Kurdish Regional Government. Davutoglu requested “full cooperation from the Iraqi Kurdish brothers” against the PKK. President of Regional Government of Kurdistan Massoud Barzani said, “We are not in favor of continuation of violence. We do not see the Turkish security as separate matter. We will work for ending of unfortunate situation”.

11. The Albanian Assembly's decision to allow the temporary presence in Republic of Albania territorial waters of the five modern Turkish army warships has set in motion the Greek national security system. The news is being reported by almost all major Greek media.

Israel/Turkey

1. Turkey's senior diplomat in Israel Oguz Celikkol returned on June 3 to Turkey after Israeli attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla. He arrived in Istanbul, and will proceed to the capital Ankara later on Thursday.

2. Hundreds of activists detained by Israel during a raid on a flotilla carrying aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip arrived back in Istanbul to a heroes' welcome on Thursday. Another batch of deported activists arrived in Greece.

3. Tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul Thursday for prayers for activists killed in Israel's deadly raid on aid ships bound for Gaza, condemning the Jewish state and shouting support for Hamas.

4. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said today that Turkey would not develop any energy projects with Israel until the relations between the two countries were normalized. Yildiz told reporters that Turkey did not have any intention to start a process regarding feasibility of use of water of Manavgat or natural gas transportation on Blue Stream 2.

5. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Israel tries to justify itself by exploiting anti-Semitism and by using some international press organizations. Unfortunately, there are some Turkish press organizations and writers among them."

6. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia on phone following Israeli forces' raid on a convoy of six aid ships which resulted in killing of nine activists. Russian Prime Minister Putin expressed his sorrow over killing of nine people during the raid.

7. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Monday to discuss the Gaza flotilla incident.

8. The U.S. State Department on Thursday confirmed that a U.S.-Turkish dual national was killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

9. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "The relations between Israel and the world will not return to how they were." He added, "Israel is about to lose its biggest friend in the region."

10. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül on Tuesday made it clear that Turkey would not cut its defense cooperation with Israel, but said there were no large-scale or "serious projects" left anyway.

Armenia

1. Alik paper: if Israel keeps Gaza in blockade, Turkey has been blockading Armenia for 15 years

June 3, 2010 - 19:55 AMT 14:55 GMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The “anti-Israeli” moods of Turkey, which have been observed since last year, aim to show the Arab countries that allegedly Turkey protects the Palestinian people’s rights more than other Islamic countries, reads an editorial of Armenian Alik paper published in Iran.

“The situation’s farce is in the fact that Turkey is trying to display its sympathy towards the Palestinian people, as though the Palestinian problem and liberation struggle have appeared in the international arena recently. However, the international community knows certainly that Turkey has had strategic relations with Israel for 60 years, thus stabbing in the back of the Arab world,” the editorial says.

It also noted that Ankara conceals other goals, accusing Israel. Specifically, if Israel keeps Gaza in a blockade, Turkey has been blockading Armenia for over 15 years. “If Israel violates the rights of the Palestinian people, Turkey has article 201 of the Criminal Code, which threatens such people, as writer Orhan Pamuk and historian Taner Akcam,” the article reads.

The paper’s editor concludes that Turkey, which has been denying its history and trying to mislead the international community, will not be able to avoid the Armenian Genocide recognition and compensation of the Armenian people’s losses, like Israel will reimburse the Palestinian people’s damage one day.

2. Armenian Media Groups Demand Journalist's ReleaseJune 02, 2010

http://www.rferl.org/content/Armenian_Media_Groups_Demand_Journalists_Release/2060041.html

Armenia's leading media associations have demanded the immediate release of a young reporter arrested while covering an opposition protest in Yerevan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Police allege that Ani Gevorgian, a 23-year-old correspondent for the pro-opposition daily "Haykakan Zhamanak," assaulted a police officer during a confrontation between security forces and opposition activists trying to enter Yerevan's Liberty Square on May 30.

Gevorgian was detained on May 31 during another confrontation between police and opposition supporters in the same area.

One of Gevorgian's lawyers, Lusine Sahakian, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that she is accused of hitting a police officer in the face.

"Ani Gevorgian did not hit anyone," said Sahakian. "We think that she was deprived of her freedom because of her journalistic activities."

"Just how a 23-year-old woman could have used force against police officers remains unclear," six Armenian media groups said in a joint statement on June 1. They demanded the Armenian police immediately release Gevorgian and punish "the policemen who exceeded their legal powers."

The statement further condemned the brief detention of two other journalists during the May 31 incident when police used force against several dozen supporters of the opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK).

"Haykakan Zhamanak" denounced its reporter's prosecution as an act of "personal revenge" by the chief of Armenia's national police, Alik Sarkisian.

The newspaper's managing editor, Hayk Gevorgian, linked it to a recent article in which Gevorgian had ridiculed a promotional police video carried by Armenia's leading television stations.

"Ani found the clip was very ineptly duplicated from a similar video produced by the Georgian police, and that the whole purpose of the clip was to advertise Alik Sarkisian," the editor told a news conference.

"Haykakan Zhamanak," which is Armenia's best-selling daily newspaper, has long been at loggerheads with the authorities.

Its outspoken editor in chief, Nikol Pashinian, is currently serving a 3 1/2-year prison sentence for his alleged role in the 2008 postelection unrest in Yerevan. The HAK and local human rights organizations consider Pashinian a political prisoner.

3. Journalist Ani Gevorgian was released after three days in jail.

http://www.rferl.org/content/Arrested_Armenian_Journalist_And_Brother_Released/2061440.html

June 03, 2010

YEREVAN -- An Armenian journalist and her brother who were detained while covering an attempted opposition protest on May 31 have been released from custody, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Ani Gevorgian, who works for the pro-opposition "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily, and her brother, Sarkis Gevorgian, were charged with assaulting a police officer.

An activist of the opposition Armenian National Congress, David Kiramidzhian, who was detained together with them remains in custody. He was charged with hooliganism.

The three were detained during a confrontation between police and opposition supporters near Yerevan's Liberty Square.

Gevorgian covered a similar stand-off between opposition supporters and police at the same place on May 30.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, along with Armenia's leading media associations and human rights organizations, expressed concern over Gevorgian's arrest this week and demanded her immediate release.

Azerbaijan

1. Azeri president receives Belarus counterpart Text of report by private Azerbaijani news agency Turan Baku, 3 June: Talks between the Azerbaijani and Belarus presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Alyaksandr Lukashenka, took place in Baku today - both one-on-one and with the participation of delegations.Bilateral relations were discussed in the course of the meeting and there was an exchange of views on international events, the press service of the Azerbaijani president reported.Source: Turan news agency, Baku, in Russian 1300 gmt 3 Jun 10 BBC Mon TCU 030610 fm/ra

2. Azerbaijan, Belarus sign bilateral documents

http://en.trend.az/news/official/chronicle/1699147.html

03.06.2010 21:47Azerbaijan and Belarus have today signed several bilateral documents, AzerTAj state news agency reported.Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Alexander Lukashenko signed a joint declaration of Presidents of the Republics of Azerbaijan and Belarus. Chairperson of Azerbaijan`s state committee for family, women and children affairs Hijran Huseynova and Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov signed "Agreement on cooperation between the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Social Protection of Belarus". Chairman of the State Statistical Committee Arif Valiyev and Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov signed "Agreement on cooperation between the State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus in the field of statistics". Minister for ecology and natural resources of Azerbaijan Huseyngulu Bagirov and Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov signed "Agreement on cooperation between the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry of the Republic of Belarus in the field of environmental protection". Chairman of the Azerbaijan Accounts Chamber Heydar Asadov and chairman of the Belarus State Control Committee Zenon Lomat signed "Agreement on cooperation between the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Azerbaijan and State Control Committee of the Republic of Belarus". President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Mahmud Karimov and Chairman of the State Science and Technology Committee of Belarus Igor Voitov signed "Agreement on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus in the fields of science and technology". The Communications and Information Technologies Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Abbasov and Belarus Minister of Communications and Informatization Nikolay Panteley signed "Agreement on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus in the fields of informatization and information technologies". Economic development minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev and Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Martynov signed "Agreement on cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Belarus in the field of promotion and mutual protection of investment".

3. SOCAR offers to speed up production from Shah-Deniz to 2014

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1698589.html

03.06.2010 12:40Azerbaijan, Baku, June 3 / corr Trend A. Badalova /

SOCAR (the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan) offers an alternative option to develop the Shah Denis Phase 2 project in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian, which will enable to speed up production in the field by 2014, SOCAR First Vice President Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh said to the 17th International Caspian Oil and Gas exhibition and conference in Baku on July 3.

Yusifzadeh said BP, a project operator, offers to carry out production from 30 subsea wells, connected with a platform with four manifolds on and to construct a compressor station either on the platform or on the Sangachal terminal. It is related to big water depth on the drilling point under the second stage.

SOCAR offers to install two platforms with 11 wells drilled on each, which will be developed both on the platform and in other fields of Azerbaijan. It will enable to increase security and cover lower horizons and reduce the development term to 2014 compared to 2016, Yusifzadeh added.

SOCAR jointly with its partners intend to consider and review a concept of implementing the Shah Deniz Phase 2 in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian.

Yusifzadeh said the company is concerned over difficulty of serving subsea wells.

"Technical security makes to think over it," Yusifzadeh said.

BP has experience with subsea wells, whilst SOCAR thinks the concept should be anew revised. The peak volume under the first stage of the project will comprise 8.6 billion cubic meters.

According to the forecasts, in 2010 total amount of production from the Shah Deniz field will comprise 7.6 billion cubic meters.  It is planned to produce additional 16 billion cubic meters of gas since the second stage of the project.

The contract to develop the offshore field "Shah Deniz" (total reserves of 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas) was signed June 4, 1996. Members of the agreement are: BP (operator) - 25.5 percent, Statoil - 25.5 percent, NICO - 10 percent, Total - 10 percent, Lukoil - 10 percent, TPAO - 9 percent, SOCAR - 10 percent. Now gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey via South Caucasus gas pipeline, as well as purchased by Azerbaijan.

At present, gas is transported to Georgia and Turkey via the Southern Caucasus gas pipeline, and is purchased by Azerbaijan.

4. DEPA: Greece ready to receive Azerbaijani gas

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1698789.html

03.06.2010 15:44Greece is ready to receive Azerbaijani gas after the signing of a transit agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkey, DEPA Greek Gas Corporation Chairman and Executive Director Harry Sachinis said today at the Seventeenth International Caspian Oil and Gas Conference in Baku.

"After signing the agreement on transit with Turkey, Azerbaijan will be ready to supply gas to Europe. [...] We are ready to receive the Azerbaijani gas, but the question is, in what amount," Sachinis said.

Greece and Turkey share a pipeline through which Azerbaijani gas can be transported, he said.

"We are making efforts to join Greece and Bulgaria [by gas pipeline]," Sachinis said.

He added that Greece may become an energy knot, and he would like to cooperate more closely with Azerbaijan.

"We are a significant player who could contribute to increasing Azerbaijani gas exports to Europe," Sachinis said.

5. Edison: ITGI is most competitive project for Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1698220.html

03.06.2010 16:16The ITGI pipeline project traversing Turkey, Greece and Italy is the most competitive project for Azerbaijani gas supplues to Europe, International Gas Infrastructure head at the Italian Edison company Elio Ruggeri said at the Seventeenth International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference.

He said the ITGI project is ready to bring Azerbaijani gas to European markets.

"We are ready to buy Azerbaijani gas, and are ready to supply this gas to European markets," Ruggeri said.

According to Ruggeri, gas is needed to implement the South Corridor project. He said Azerbaijan is the only potential gas supplier to Europe.

Ruggeri stressed that several other countries also have immense energy resources, but they need more time to supply the gas.

In terms of the ITGI project, Ruggeri said it is the best way to ensure the diversification of gas supplies to European markets.

According to Ruggeri, the ITGI project will be ready for launch by 2015 and will facilitate gas supplies from the Shah Deniz Field.

"We are doing everything we can to put the project into operation in 2015," Ruggeri said.

According to the ITGI official, if the project is commissioned in 2016 in the second stage of Shah Deniz's development, ITGI activities will be slowed.

The ITGI transport corridor will transport Azerbaijani gas to Greece and Italy and includes updated Turkish pipeline infrastructure and also ITG projects such as the Turkey-Greece junction pipeline and IGI. The Greece-Italy junction pipeline is a missing link of the Turkey-Greece-Italy transport corridor, which enables gas transports from the Caspian region and Middle East to Italy

and Western Europe via Turkey and Greece. The ITGI's designed carrying capacity is 12 billion cubic meters per year.

When operational, the ITGI will stretch from Azerbaijan across Georgia via the existing Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum Pipeline to Turkey, Greece and Italy across the Ionian Sea.

6. SOCAR, German company sign onshore oil field dealhttp://www.news.az/articles/16791 Thu 03 June 2010 | 09:28 GMT Text size: Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, and German company Lanser have signed a production sharing agreement (PSA) on Absheron Peninsula oil fields.SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and Lothar Tauschke, head of UGE-Lanser signed the deal today.Under the terms of the PSA, Lanser will have a 75% share in the development of the Balakhani, Sabunchi, Ramana and Kurdakhani structures while the Azerbaijani side owns a 25% share.

Rovnag Abdullayev told reporters after the signing that the fields had a 140-year history.'Production has been under way at Balakhani, Sabunchi and Ramani since 1871. Since then, 271m tonnes of oil have been produced. Recoverable reserves are 7.3m tonnes. In 2009, 208,000 tonnes were produced from the block,' Abudullayev said. The German company will pay $2m to Azerbaijan as a signing bonus and the same amount when daily production is increased by 50%, Abdullayev said. 'The agreement has been concluded for 25 years but the term may be prolonged by another five years,' the SOCAR chief said. He said that development of the fields required some $100m in investment.

Under the agreement, Lanser has three months in which to submit an investment program to SOCAR after which the volume of investment will be specified.'We realize that the Absheron Peninsula has special significance for Azerbaijan from the ecological point of view. In this context we will pay special attention to the rehabilitation of these deposits,' Lothar Tauschke said.The field is worked by SOCAR's Balakhanineft oil and gas production department

7. Jailed Azerbaijani Journalist Announces Hunger StrikeJune 02, 2010http://www.rferl.org/content/Jailed_Azerbaijani_Journalist_Announces_Hunger_Strike/2060145.html

A jailed Azerbaijani journalist says he will go on hunger strike to demand authorities comply with a ruling by the European Court for Human Rights to release him from jail, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reports.

Eynulla Fatullayev, editor in chief of the newspaper "Realny Azerbaijan," made the

announcement today in Baku's Garadag district court, where he is currently on trial on drugs charges.

Fatullayev was jailed for 8 1/2 years in 2007 for terrorism, inciting interethnic hatred, and tax evasion. He was also found guilty at a separatetrial earlier the same year of "giving wrong information" about the killings of Azerbaijani civilians in 1992 in the village of Khojaly during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

On April 22, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said Azerbaijan had violated Fatullayev's rights to freedom of expression and a fair trial and called on Baku to release him.

In late December 2009, prison guards at the labor camp where Fatullayev is serving his prison term found 0.22 grams of heroin in his pockets and shoes. Fatullayev says the drugs were planted by camp guards.

8. U.S. Secretary of Defense to discuss Afghan transit in Baku

June 03, 2010 14:32http://interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=168742BAKU. June 3 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. Secretary of State Robert Gates will visit Azerbaijan on June 6 - 7, where he will discuss bilateral cooperation with Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, the U.S. embassy to Azerbaijan told Interfax on Thursday.The discussions will center on Azerbaijan's contribution to transiting non-military supplies to Afghanistan, the embassy reported.

Georgia

1. Georgia arrests five on charges of involvement in international drug cartel Georgian police have arrested five people on charges of involvement in an international drug cartel that transported cocaine from Latin America through Georgia for further distribution in Turkey and Europe."We have arrested a group of five people who were engaged in smuggling large shipments of cocaine from Peru, Panama and Colombia through Georgia and on to Turkey. The cocaine was hidden among shipments of scrap metal which entered Georgian ports from Peruvian ports," Shota Utiashvili, the chief of the Georgian Interior Ministry's analytical department told a briefing in remarks broadcast by Imedi TV on 3 June.A statement posted on the ministry's official website said that one shipment of 90 kilograms of cocaine arrived at Georgia's Poti port in July 2009 and was then smuggled into Turkey hidden the bumper of a car.Imedi further reported in regard to the same cartel that on 3 June police seized 1.7m euros buried in the ground in a greenhouse on a farm in western Georgia's Tsqaltubo District.The Georgian Interior Ministry said the smuggling ring was coordinated by a Georgian-born citizen of Greece based in Spain and involved a prominent Spain-based Georgian "crime boss".Source: Imedi TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1300gmt 03 Jun 10

2. Georgia-U.S. trainings in Potihttp://www.rustavi2.com/news/news_text.php?id_news=37276&pg=1&im=main03.06.10 13:41Georgian and American soldiers are taking joint trainings in Poti. The submarine operations have been underway in the base of the Poti coastal guards since the morning today. The US warship Grapple entered Poti Port on May 26 on a friendly visit, within which 20 Georgian coast guards are being trained. The visit includes both theoretical and practical trainings. The U.S. military warship will leave Georgian water space on June 9.

3. Situation in Georgia discussed in French parliamenthttp://en.trend.az/print/1698740.html 03.06.2010 13:33

Georgia, Tbilisi, June 3 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /The National Assembly of France presented a report on the processes occurring in the South Caucasus. It deals with ongoing projects and programs planned for future, the Georgian Embassy in France said.The document was presented by members of French ruling team and the opposition.The report presents recommendations on foreign policy of Georgia. The document notes the need for greater inclusiveness of the EU to solve the existing problems in the country.Georgian Ambassador to France Irakli Kudava said that French politicians have great interest in Tbilisi. "They openly say that Russia must fulfill its commitments and withdraw its troops from Georgian territory. Afterwards, talks on the conflict issues must be renewed," he said. 

4. President Basescu: Romania does not back outline European security treaty proposed by Medvedevhttp://www.actmedia.eu/2010/06/03/top+story/president+basescu%3A+romania+does+not+back+outline+european+security+treaty+proposed+by+medvedev+/27763 Date: 03-06-2010  Romania does not back the outline European security treaty proposed by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, President Traian Basescu said on Wednesday. 'I informed President Saakashvili that Romania does not back the outline European security treaty proposed by President Medvedev. We consider there are the levers in place to solve these problems, firstly the OSCE and NATO. We have structures in which to discuss the European security', Basescu said in a statement for the press alongside visiting Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili.

The Russian resident representative at NATO Dmitri Rogozin had handed in Alliance Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Nov. 30 Moscow's outline of a new European security pact. The new Collective Security Treaty draft aims to create new security mechanisms to the

implementation of which 'all the states in the Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Asian area' should contribute. Russian President Medvedev proposed the Western partners a new European security pact as early as in last June.

President Saakashvili arrived at the Cotroceni presidential Palace on Wednesday for a two-day official visit to Romania at President Basescu's invitation,Agerpres informs. Traian Basescu: We insist Georgia is given MAP Romania insists that Georgia is given the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a roadmap to entry to NATO, stated on Wednesday President Traian Basescu in a joint press conference with Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili, who is paying an official visit to Bucharest.

'In respect of Romania's position, I would like to be extremely clear that we have not changed our stance as regards Georgia from the NATO Summit in Bucharest. We consider that Georgia can, even under current conditions, be awarded the Membership Action Plan and, as such, to benefit of a clear time horizon to join NATO. What was established in Bucharest - namely that Georgia has to become a NATO member - in the absence of the MAP, is not very clear when it will achieve this goal. Therefore, we insist that Georgia is given the MAP', said the head of Romanian state.

Traian Basescu added that, within bilateral talks, one of the approached subjects was related to the close NATO Summit, the head of state noting that Romania wishes to become better acquainted with Georgia's aspirations and goals at this meeting.

He pointed out that Georgia, through its position, doubled by a wise policy related to the transit costs, can become an extremely important country for the creation of alternative solutions in the field of the European Union energy supplies, either natural gas, or crude oil.

5. Meetings on prevention of tension in Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone resumed after long breakhttp://en.trend.az/print/1698717.html 03.06.2010 13:16

Georgia, Tbilisi, June 3 / Trend, N.Kirtskhalia /Meetings on the prevention of tension in the region to discuss the situation in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict began in Ergneti. The meeting  is held under the UN auspices with the EU observers' participation.The Georgian side is traditionally headed by the head of analytical department of the Georgian Interior Ministry Shota Utiashvili.The meeting will discuss the criminal situation in the conflict zone, as well as issues with the "violators" of the so-called Georgian-South Ossetian border. The sides will discuss the situation on the detained citizens of both sides and possibility of their release.Meetings in Ergneti were resumed after a long break, as Tskhinvali refused to participate in the meetings, demanding release of all the arrested Ossetians from the Georgian prisons.

Meetings on the prevention of tension are held by the Abkhaz and South Ossetian side on the initiative of the UN, OSCE and the EU. 

6. Georgia's Ruling Party Wins Local Electionshttp://www.rferl.org/content/Georgias_Ruling_Party_Wins_Local_Elections/2060294.htmlJune 02, 2010Georgia's Central Election Commission today released the final results of municipal elections that show President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement won the May 30 poll.

Three election blocs and 14 political parties competed for seats in 64 municipal councils.

The United National Movement received almost 66 percent of the votes and its candidate, incumbent Gigi Ugulava, won the first-ever election for mayor of the capital, Tbilisi.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) observer mission said in a statement that the election was "transparent" and marked "evident progress towards meeting international standards." But the statement added that "significant shortcomings remain to be addressed."

It noted "systemic irregularities," including several cases of ballot-box stuffing and an "uneven playing field favoring contestants from the incumbent party."

Turkey

1. Iraqi Kurdistan leader says ready for "all types" of cooperation with Turkey

A joint news conference held by Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Mas'ud Barzani and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara was aired live by the Kurdistan Democratic Party-owned Kurdistan Satellite TV on 3 June.Barzani, speaking in Bahdinani Kurdish, and Davutoglu, speaking in Turkish, addressed reporters with overlaid Kurmanji translation. Both officials were asked about the absence of the Iraqi flag in the background. Barzani said he was not aware of the situation, while Davutoglu said that there was no special reason for that.

Aims of visit Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu addressed reporters saying that Barzani's visit was the first to Turkey in six years, He said he hoped to receive President Barzani more frequently in the future. Davutoglu said that Turkey wanted to normalize the historic relations with all parties in the region including "Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis, Shi'is and Iran". Davutoglu said that Turkey respected its borders and international laws, adding that Barzani's' visit was important as it contributed to the fulfilment of this objective.

Border issues, ties with Kurdistan Region

Davutoglu wished peace and coexistence between Turkey, Iraq and "the [Iraqi] Kurdish brothers". He described the Kurds of Iraq as a very important factor in the improvement of ties between Iraq and Turkey. The Turkish minister announced at the news conference that Turkish airlines would soon launch flights from Ankara to Arbil. He added that Turkey looked forward to enhance ties with "the Kurdish brothers" describing Barzani's visit as "historic opportunity for the improvement of relations". On the same vein, Mas'ud Barzani said: "We are ready for all types of cooperation [with Turkey]... We are very sad about the blood shed of Kurds and Turkish citizens of Turkey... We have to work towards ending the bloodshed."

Barzani and Turkey's Kurdish question Regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey, Barzani expressed his sorrow about the losses among the Kurdish and Turkish "young men" saying "the bloodshed must end." When asked about the expected meeting between the Kurdistan Region president and the co-leader of pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Selahattin Demirtas, Barzani said: "Our stance is clear. We want all Kurds to respond to the Turkish government's opening policy in order to end this sad situation." Barzani also added that security for Turkey meant security for the Kurdistan Region.

Iraqi elections The Turkish minister said he had discussed the Iraqi elections with Barzani. Davutoglu added: "We are happy for the constitutional court's approval of the election results." On his part, Barzani said: The Kurdistan Region has a positive role in the post-election issues and it will make every effort to ensure the participation of all sides in the new Iraqi government.

Kirkuk; Gaza flotilla When asked about Kirkuk issues Barzani replied saying the Iraqi constitution had set mechanisms for resolving the issue through the implementation of Article 140. On his reaction to the Israeli raid on the pro-Palestinian activists' flotilla, Barzani said: "We are sorry for the loss of civilians."Source: Kurdistan Satellite TV, Arbil, in Sorani Kurdish 1030 gmt 3 Jun 10

2. Turkish-Azeribaijani gas deal may foster exportshttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-azeri-gas-deal-may-foster-exports-2010-06-03

6-3-10Turkey and Azerbaijan will sign an agreement on natural gas from the Shah Deniz fields next week, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said.

Azerbaijan President İlham Aliyev will visit for a signing ceremony on June 7 and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will join them a day later for talks on issues including energy, Yıldız said to reporters in Istanbul Thursday.

Azerbaijan and Turkey’s planned gas accord will foster exports, aiding partners led by BP Plc and Statoil ASA to make an investment decision on a $20 billion Caspian Sea project, the Azerbaijani state energy producer said.

The countries will need six to eight months to close commercial details, after signing a planned framework accord, said Murat Heydarov, adviser to the head of the State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan, or Socar. Azerbaijani President İlham Aliyev may sign a gas accord with Turkey during a visit on Monday and Tuesday, Anatolia news agency reported.

The Nabucco gas pipeline, a 7.9 billion-euro project led by OMV AG, is vying with links planned separately by Statoil and Edison SpA to bring Azerbaijani gas to Europe. Russia’s OAO Gazprom has also said it is ready to buy all the gas produced at the BP and Statoil-led Shah Deniz project in the Azerbaijani part of the Caspian Sea.

The gas supply and transit agreement will create “an open road” for exports to Europe, which has slowed a decision on the second phase of the Shah Deniz field, where Socar is a partner, Heydarov told reporters Thursday.

“We have been hugely encouraged over recent weeks at the progress that the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments have made toward reaching agreements on terms for Shah Deniz sales and transit,” Al Cook, BP’s vice president for Shah Deniz development, said today at a conference in Baku.

Initial output

Initial production from the field’s second phase is expected in 2016, Cook said. Shah Deniz’s second phase will pump almost 16 billion cubic meters of natural-gas a year within the two to three years after it starts, Heydarov said.

Azerbaijan aims to have 20 billion cubic meters of gas available for export in 2017, all but 4 billion cubic meters from Shah Deniz, Kamal Abbasov, who oversees gas marketing for Socar, said at the conference.

BP and Statoil each own 25.5 percent of the Shah Deniz production-sharing agreement. Socar, Russia’s OAO Lukoil, National Iranian Oil Co. and Paris-based Total SA each own 10 percent. Turkish Petroleum Overseas Co. owns 9 percent.

3. Suspected general requests testimony of former Turkish General Staff chiefhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=8216question-the-former-chief-of-general-staff8217-2010-06-03

6.3.10

The lawyers of retired Gen. Çetin Doğan on Wednesday demanded testimony from Hilmi Özkök, a former Chief of General Staff, related to the charges brought against their client.Doğan is the former commander of the 1st Army and among the top suspects in the “Sledgehammer” case - an alleged military coup plot against the leading Justice and Development Party, or AKP, drafted in 2003.

According to the allegations, the military planned drastic measures to foment unrest in the country in order to remove the AKP from power. Those measures included bombing two major mosques in Istanbul, an assault on a military museum by people disguised as religious extremists and raising tensions with Greece through an attack on a Turkish plane and blaming the incident on the Aegean neighbor.Doğan’s lawyers are building their defense on the idea that the documents of a legitimate military drill were tampered with to look like a coup plan. The lawyers submitted a petition to the Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday and demanded Özkök be questioned on how the secret documents were taken out of the headquarters of the 1st Army.The lawyers said Özkök had mentioned the matter in several interviews he gave to the press and his testimony would help the investigation.Also, organizations should be asked whether or not intelligence on a coup plan during 2001-2003 reached the National Intelligence agency, or MİT, according to the lawyer’s demands.

4. VP receives invitation to attend conf. in IstanbulJune 3, 2010 - 03:22:14http://en.aswataliraq.info/?p=132671BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi was invited by the Turkish and Kazakh leaders to attend a confidence-building conference scheduled to be hosted by the Turkish city of Istanbul this month, according to a press release by Hashimi’s office on Thursday.“Vice President Hashimi received an official invitation from Turkish President Abdullah Gul and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nezarbayev to attend the confidence-building conference in Istanbul on June 8,” read the release as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.“Hashimi will lead Iraq’s delegation to the interaction and confidence-building conference in Asia,” it added.The event is expected to witness Iraq’s accession to the conference, in addition to the vice president’s address on the occasion.

5. Turkey sides with Macedonia in name disputehttp://www.b92.net//eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=06&dd=03&nav_id=675763 June 2010 | 16:34 | Source: Tanjug SKOPJE -- Turkey is supporting Macedonia on the road to NATO and the EU, as well as in its name dispute with Greece.

This is according to Turkish Ambassador to Skopje Arslan Hakan Okcal, who pointed out in his farewell speech at the parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee that Ankara “believes in Macedonia’s role in the Balkans and Europe”.

The ambassador also stressed that Turkey supported Skopje in the dispute with Athens regarding the former Yugoslav republic's constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia.

In April 2008, Greece blocked Macedonia’s accession into NATO until the dispute over its name has been resolved. Macedonia is also an EU candidate, but accession negotiations still have not

begun due to the dispute.

Greece claims that the name Macedonia refers to the ancient northern Greek province. The UN has been unsuccessfully mediating in the dispute that has been ongoing for almost two decades.

In the early 1990's, Skopje became a UN member under the temporary name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

6. Catholic bishop stabbed to death in Turkeyhttp://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1560539.php/Catholic-bishop-stabbed-to-death-in-TurkeyJun 3, 2010, 13:50 GMT

Istanbul - A top Catholic Church official in Turkey was stabbed to death in his home on Thursday, Turkish television broadcasters reported.

The reports said Vicar Apostolic for the Anatolia region, Bishop Luigi Padovese, was killed by a driver in the bishop's home in Iskenderun.

Further details were not immediately known.

In recent years, nationalist extremists in Turkey on several occasions have attacked or kidnapped Christian clergymen in the country.

Luigi Padovese took up his post in Iskenderun in southern Turkey in November 2004.

7. Bishop's suspected killer was his driver - Turkish agency Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Hatay, 3 June 2010: Suspected killer of Roman Catholic bishop Luigi Padovese was captured.Mehmet Celalettin Lekesiz, governor of the southern province of Iskenderun, said that the killer had been Padovese's driver for the last for four and a half years.Lekesiz expressed profound sorrow over killing of the pope's apostolic vicar in Anatolia who was stabbed to death in his summer mansion in the town of Iskenderun."The suspect was captured. According to the preliminary reports, the murder did not have a political motive. It was revealed that the suspect had been receiving treatment for psychological disorders. A full investigation is under way," he said.During a mass at the Assyrian Catholic Church two days ago, Padovese condemned the act of terror in Iskenderun on Monday in which 6 troops were killed. He defined the town of Iskenderun as a cradle of different cultures and different faiths. Padovese also said that opening of the Assyrian church was the sign of importance attached by Turkish constitution and state to the freedom of religious belief.Padovese died en route to hospital.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1332 gmt 3 Jun 10

8. Turkey widens cooperation with Kurds in north Iraqhttp://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1560536.php/Turkey-widens-cooperation-with-Kurds-in-north-IraqJun 3, 2010, 13:42 GMT

Ankara - Turkey plans to expand business ties with the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Thursday.

Two major Turkish banks will soon open branches in the autonomous region and state-run Turkish Airlines will add the regional capital of Erbil to its list of destinations, he told a news conference.

Davutoglu made the announcement after talks in Ankara with Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdish autonomous region of northern Iraq.

Analysts said the move would increase business and investment opportunities for Turkish firms in the region as well as isolating the outlawed Kurdish Workers Party (PKK).

Barzani said his meeting with the foreign minister had opened up a new era of friendship between Erbil and Ankara, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reported.

'Turkey is our bridge to the West and we are Turkey's bridge to the Gulf states,' he added.

It was Barzani's first visit to Turkey since he was elected president of the Kurdish region in 2005.

A number of Turkish construction firms are currently doing business in northern Iraq.

Foreign companies generally restrict their activities to the three Kurdish provinces of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah und Dohuk, because the security situation there is better than in other parts of Iraq.

Iraq, which has only one port - Basra, in the south - is dependant on cooperation Turkey for the export of its oil.

Some 244 PKK guerrillas were killed in a Turkish ground offensive in north Iraq in February 2008. Some 27 soldiers also died.

9. Iraq's Barzani vows support for Turkey on landmark visithttp://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59448 Barzani has vowed support for Turkey in Ankara's fight against PKK militants as he meets Turkish leaders.

 Head of the Kurdish regional administration in Iraq's north Massoud Barzani has vowed support for Turkey in Ankara's fight against PKK militants, sources close to a meeting between Turkish premier and Barzani told semi-state news agency on Thursday.

Sources cited Barzani as telling Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the regional administration would extend any kind of support to Turkey in the cooperation against terrorism.

"We want to maintain good relations with Turkey," AA sources quoted Barzani as telling the Turkish premier during what they described as "a very fruitful" meeting in capital Ankara.

"Support for Turkey"

Head of the Kurdish regional administration in Iraq's north expressed willingness for cooperation with Turkey to move relations further ahead.

"We know that our future lies in maintaining good relations with Turkey. We have many shared values and things to do together," Massoud Barzani told reporters at a joint press appearance with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in the Turkish capital.

Barzani was visiting Ankara for the first time in six years.

The Iraqi Kurdish leader said Turkey was a bridge for Iraq's north to open up to the West as much as Iraq was a gateway for Turkey to reach out to the Gulf region.

Recalling Davutoglu's latest visit to Irbil, Barzani said that it had put relations with Turkey on "a right track."

"And my visit here today in Ankara is a complimentary one to strengthen friendship and brotherhood," Barzani said.

Barzani said he had welcomed Turkish government's "democratic initiative," adding "we are ready to make any kind of cooperation."

"We are saddened by the deaths of young people, no matter they are Turkish or Kurdish. This has to end once and for all. We are in no way in favor of the continuation of violence. We do not separate our security from that of Turkey. We will exert any kind of effort to stop these saddening events," Barzani said in response to a question.

Barzani said they favored a settlement to the issue over Kirkuk in line with the provisions of the Iraqi constitution.

"The way to solve this problem is shown in our constitution and we do seek no other settlement," Barzani said.

"Turkey-Iraq axis"

The Turkish foreign minister defined Turkey-Iraq axis as an important factor for a stable and prosperous Middle East.

Davutoglu said Turkey saw a Turkey-Iraq axis also as a permanent factor for a stable and prosperous Mideast.

"Turkey wants all regional relations and the historical course in its region to normalize," Davutoglu told the press conference.

Davutoglu said, "of course, we will respect our borders, and implement all factors that are the requirements of international law, but we will know that we can build our common future with all the sister nations."

The Turkish minister underlined importance of the timing of the visit which took place in days when the Middle East was being reshaped and friend and sister Iraq was reconstructed.

"We want the reconstruction processes of Middle East and Iraq to build a common future towards peace and stability," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu highlighted importance of Turkey-Iraq relations in the reconstruction process, and said Turkey saw the regional administration in north of Iraq as an important factor in Iraq, and Kurdish people in Iraq as the main elements of the alliance.

The Turkish minister said the Iraqi elections reflected the will of the Iraqi nation, and welcomed ratification of the results of the elections by the Iraqi high court.

"We believe our Iraqi brothers will behave with political prudence for formation of a government reflecting the political will of the Iraqi nation, and Turkey will always stand by its Iraqi brothers and sisters," he said.

Davutoglu said all Iraqi people were Turkey's brothers and Turkey wanted all those groups to build a strong, prosperous and stable Iraq.

"We will establish a world in peace and stability from the Gulf to Europe, from Baghdad to Istanbul," he said.

Davutoglu also said brotherhood established in that region would be an example to the entire world, and Arabs, Turkmens, Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis would live together as the pieces of that common world.

"Full cooperation"

Turkish Foreign Minister said that Turkey expects full cooperation from the Iraqi Kurdish regional administration on fight against terrorism.

Davutoglu said that an exact decision has been made during their meeting.

"As a bridge for our close relations between Turkey and Iraq, a full integration work will be carried out between Turkey and northern Iraq as well," Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu also said that a joint energy, trade and transportation strategy would be built, adding Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines was working to start flights to Irbil in the north of Iraq.

Turkish banks Isbank and Ziraat Bank are also willing to open branches in Irbil, Davutoglu said.

However, he stated that terrorism was the major threat to fraternity between the two peoples.

"Vision, peace, security and future cannot be established at a place where terrorism prevails. So, we expect full cooperation from our Iraqi brothers, especially from the Iraqi Kurdish regional administration, on fight against terrorism. We are pleased with recent increasing cooperation," Davutoglu said.

10. Turkey 'satisfied' about cooperation with Iraqi Kurdistan over PKKhttp://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=22803 June 2010

Turkey asked Barzani for full cooperation against the PKK and the Kurdish leader pledged to work to solve "this unfortunate situation"

At joint press conference, the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, that they ware satisfied with cooperation with the Kurdish Regional Government. Davutoglu requested “full cooperation from the Iraqi Kurdish brothers” against the PKK. President of Regional Government of Kurdistan Massoud Barzani expressed its support to the Turkish government’s expansion on Kurdish question. Barzani said, “We are not in favor of continuation of violence. We do not see the Turkish security as separate matter. We will work for ending of unfortunate situation”.

President Of Regional Government of Kurdistan Massoud Barzani, who is on tree day visit in Turkey, met Turkish foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. 

In a joint press conference after the meeting, Mr. Davutoglu requested “full cooperation from the Iraqi Kurdish brothers” against the PKK. Davutoglu who see the PKK as tread to contacts with Hewler (Arbil) said that the cooperation against the PKK is developing. 

Davutoglu, said, “Where there is terror, there is no vision, peace, security and future. Therefore we ask full cooperation with all our Iraqi brothers, with our Iraqi Kurdish brothers. And in last period we are pleased that the cooperation is increased.”

Davutoglu highlighted importance of Turkey-Iraq relations in the reconstruction process, and said Turkey saw the regional administration in north Iraq as an important factor in Iraq, and

Kurdish people in Iraq as the main elements of the alliance. 

Barzani added, “We are ready for all kinds of cooperation. We are saddened by the bloodshed whether it is a Kurdish youth or a Turkish youth who loses his/her life," Barzani said. "This has to come to an end." A condolences to families whom in recent unfortunate events have lost their lives. Our attitude about development on the government in Iraq will be constructive”.

On a question about Turkish request on PKK Barzani said, “We are not in favor of continuation of violence. We do not see the security of Turkey as separate matter.  We will work for ending of unfortunate situations”

On a question about his upcoming meeting with co-cher of BDP, Mr. Selahattin Demirtas, Barzani said that they will discuss about the development in Iraq and regional and adding, “We think that all Kurds must be consulted about the developments”.

11. Greek media "alarmed" over Turkish fleet in Albanian waters - Tirana paper Text of report by Albanian leading privately-owned centrist newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare, on 31 May [Report by Tedi Blushi: Greek Media Alarmed About Turkish Navy Ships in Albanian Waters; Fleet in Ionian Sea to be Kept Under Observation]The Assembly's decision to allow the temporary presence in Republic of Albania territorial waters of the five modern Turkish army warships has set in motion the Greek national security system. The news is being reported by almost all major Greek media, such as state television ERT, daily newspapers Eleftherotypia, Kathimerini, To Virna, Ta Nea as well as the prestigious magazine Stratiki. In its edition yesterday [ 30 May], Eieftherotipia, referring to official sources from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that the five Turkish ships visit to Albania will be closely observed, implying thus the use of intelligence services. According to the same newspaper, such "observation" will be carried out because of the mystery surrounding this visit, and also because it is not included in NATO operations framework. "The Foreign Ministry is keeping a low profile saying that this is scheduled training, approved by decree of the Albanian parliament. Turkey ha! s invested in this relationship (with Albania) and it is interesting to observe that in the recent years has donated military equipment worth more than one hundred million dollars to Albania. However, official diplomatic sources confirmed that any military activity in neighbouring countries is closely observed, all the more in the present case when dealing with permanent cooperation, which is characterized by a particular mobility in recent years," [ 30 May] Eleftherotypia reported yesterday. In its article "The Turkish Fleet in the Ionian Sea," includes among other things a claim that "it is clear that Turkey is taking advantage of the political crisis that has been going on for months in Albania between Sali Berisha's ruling party and Edi Rama's Socialist opposition, aiming to promote the expansion of its action plans on the Adriatic and the Mediterranean." The newspaper also highlights the fact that the decree of the Albanian Assembly comes just four months after the ann! ulment by the Constitutional Court of the Albanian-Greek agreement on defining the maritime border. The Greek news agency on security matters "Defencet.gr", comments on the three-day stay in Albanian territorial waters of the five Turkish warships as "a threatening new escalation for Greece in the northern part of the Ionian Sea that Turkish naval forces are engaging in with the help of the Albanian parliament," while Stratiki magazine describes this as "a strategic encirclement of Greece by Turkey."

Source: Gazeta Shqiptare, Tirana, in Albanian 31 May 10

Israel/Turkey

1. Turkish ambassador to Israel returns home Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Istanbul, 3 June 2010: Turkey's senior diplomat in Israel returned on Thursday [3 June] to Turkey after Israeli attack on Gaza-bound aid flotilla.Turkey's Ambassador to Israel Oguz Celikkol arrived in Istanbul, and will proceed to the capital Ankara later on Thursday.Turkey recalled Celikkol after Israeli navy forces raided on Monday a convoy of aid ships of Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza, killing nine people and injuring 30 others.Celikkol came back to Turkey for consultations in January 2010 after Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon summoned him to express Israel's uneasiness over a Turkish TV-series showing Israeli agents kidnapping a child. During the meeting, Ayalon had Celikkol sit at a lower armchair in front of a table with only the Israeli flag on it, refusing to shake his hand in front of the press.The diplomatic crisis ended when Israel apologized with a letter after repeated calls from Turkey which warned otherwise that it would withdraw its ambassador. Celikkol then returned to Israel.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0518 gmt 3 Jun 10

2. Flotilla activists return to heroes' welcome in Turkey (Roundup)http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1560558.php/Flotilla-activists-return-to-heroes-welcome-in-Turkey-RoundupJun 3, 2010, 15:06 GMT

Istanbul/Tel Aviv/Athens - Hundreds of activists detained by Israel during a raid on a flotilla carrying aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip arrived back in Istanbul to a heroes' welcome on Thursday.

Another batch of deported activists arrived in Greece after the Greek government decided to send a military C-130 aircraft to take them home. The 31 Greeks, two French and one American landed at the military airport of Elefsina, near Athens.

Eight of the nine people killed in the pre-dawn raid Monday were laid to rest in Istanbul in the afternoon, their coffins draped in Turkish and Palestinian flags.

Turkish media reports said the eight have been identified as Turks. The ninth victim is an American of Turkish origin.

The fatalities occurred as Israeli naval commandos stormed the Gaza-bound six-ship flotilla in international waters, after it had refused orders to change course and sail to the Israeli port of Ashdod, to unload its aid for shipment to Gaza.

While the takeover of five of the ships proceeded without incident, commandos battled iron bar-and club-wielding activists on the sixth vessel, the Marvi Marmara, which sailed under the Turkish flag.

Most of the 460 activists who returned to Turkey after being deported by Israel were Turks, but the group also included six Germans. They were greeted by Turkish Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc and several other officials.

'For now, diplomacy has succeeded, however, Israel will be asked within the framework of laws to pay for the murders it has committed,' Arinc said.

'We have all condemned this unfair, cruel and barbaric attack which was a total act of piracy,' he added.

The flotilla activists were feted at a large rally held in Istanbul's central Taksim Square.

Several thousand people, many of them waving Palestinian and Turkish flags, attended the rally organized by Insan Yardim Vakfi (IHH), the Turkish non-governmental organization that was the main sponsor of the flotilla.

'We are here for our brothers in Palestine,' said Abdulkadir Sen, a 25-year-old English instructor who was at the rally. 'No Muslim can be silent about cruelty to other Muslims.'

The raid unleashed a wave of international condemnation against Israel, especially in Turkey, whose prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned that once close Israel-Turkey dies were in danger of becoming undone.

'Israel is about to lose its most important friend in the region if it does not change this mentality,' he told a meeting of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly in Ankara.

'As long as children are killed, schools and hospitals are bombed and volunteers carrying humanitarian aid to the region are massacred, prosperity and stability cannot be ensured in the region,' he added.

Erdogan also pledged that Turkey 'will not ignore and turn a blind eye in the face of this brutality.'

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, however, was unfazed at the threat to the ties - which have been rocky since Israel's military assault on the Gaza Strip in early 2009 - telling Israel Radio that 'the entire change in the relationship between us and Turkey is due to the internal change in Turkish society. '

'The change in Turkish rhetoric is due to the internal situation and internal tensions and changes within society,' he said, pointing out that Iran too, had been an important Israeli ally until the Islamic revolution in 1979.

The head of Insan Yardim Vakfi, meanwhile, said his organization will continue to try and break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza.

'We will continue until the embargo is lifted, and we will make the entire world take action from the sea and land with bigger convoys to end the embargo,' IHH chairman Bulent Yildirim said at Istanbul's airport, after returning from Israel.

Yildirim had been detained by Israeli authorities after being taken from the Mavi Marmara.

He said several passengers that were on board are still missing.

The activists defended themselves against the Israeli special forces with iron rods, Yildirim said. He conceded that activists also seized some of the Israelis' weapons, but said they threw them overboard rather than using them.

'Even if we had used them, it would have been self-defence,' he said.

The Islamist Hamas movement, which rules in the Gaza Strip, said meanwhile that it would only allow the goods seized by Israel to enter the salient if certain conditions were met.

These included the release from Israel detention of all the detained activists and the transfer to the Gaza Strip of all, instead of just part, of the goods taken off the ships.

Israel said Wednesday it has released the activists from the flotilla. Seven people, including two Turks, an Australian and an Indonesian, wounded in the takeover, are still in hospital, however, and three - an Irishman, an Australian woman and an Italian man - remain in Israeli custody.

An Israeli spokesman, Major Guy Inbar, said eight trucks packed with goods taken from the flotilla are stuck at the Kerem Shalom crossing point, waiting to enter the Strip.

He denied claims by Ahmed al-Kurd, Social Welfare Minister in the Hamas government, that Israel has confiscated goods, saying the unloading of the containers from the flotilla was still proceeding.

3. Thousands pray in Istanbul for dead flotilla activistshttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5juuJ1_2RCBVE-pjW-J58QFFygpMw(AFP) – 47 minutes ago

ISTANBUL — Tens of thousands gathered here Thursday for prayers for activists killed in Israel's deadly raid on aid ships bound for Gaza, condemning the Jewish state and shouting

support for Hamas.

"Damn Israel! Israel is the angel of death!" chanted the crowd which overflowed the sprawling courtyard of the Fatih Mosque, waving Turkish and Palestinian flags.

The NTV news channel put the number of the mourners at between 15,000 and 20,000.

"We are all soldiers of Hamas," the crowd shouted, referring to the Palestinian Islamist movement, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Nine people -- eight Turks and a US national of Turkish origin -- were killed in Monday's pre-dawn raid by Israeli forces on the Turkish ferry, Mavi Marmara, the lead ship in the aid flotilla aiming to break the crippling blockade of Gaza.

They were all shot dead, according to Turkish forensic experts, cited by the Anatolia news agency.

"May your martyrdom be blessed," read a huge banner in the colours of the Palestinian flag, hung on the wall surrounding the mosque courtyard.

The coffins of eight of the activists were laid on marble stands, covered with both Turkish and Palestinian flags, as several imams guided the mourners in the prayers.

One of the dead was to be buried in Istanbul later Thursday while the rest would be flown to their hometowns.

There will be a separate ceremony Friday for the last dead activist at another Istanbul mosque.

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz, the mayor of Istanbul and the Iranian general-consul were among those who attended the ceremony, an AFP photographer said.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Thursday that the Israeli raid had delivered a heavy blow to bilateral ties and said his country would never forgive its estranged regional ally.

"From now on, Turkish-Israeli ties will never be the same. This incident has left an irreparable and deep scar" on relations, he said in televised remarks.

The raid "is not an issue that can be forgotten... or be covered up... Turkey will never forgive this attack," he added.

Ankara has already recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv and scrapped joint military exercises with Israel in an angry response to the raid.

Muslim-majority Turkey has been a close ally of Israel since the two countries signed a military cooperation deal in 1996 but relations have taken a sharp downturn since Israel's devastating war on Gaza in late 2008 and early 2009, which Turkey has vehemently criticised.

4. Turkey rules out new energy projects with Israel for now Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Istanbul, 3 June 2010: Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz said on Thursday [3 June] that Turkey would not develop any energy projects with Israel till the relations between the two countries were normalized.Yildiz told reporters that Turkey did not have any intention to start a process regarding feasibility of use of water of Manavgat or natural gas transportation on Blue Stream 2.Those two projects were currently on preparation stage, and Turkey did not consider to exert any efforts about those projects, Yildiz said.On Monday, an Israeli raid on the convoy of ships with more than 600 people on board killed nine people and injured nearly 30 others. Eight of the dead were Turkish citizens.The UN Security Council, which convened in an emergency session upon Turkey's call, condemned the Israeli intervention.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0905 gmt 3 Jun 10

5. Turkey's premier says Israel trying to justify action by using anti-Semitism Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Ankara, 3 June 2010: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Israel tries to justify itself by exploiting anti-Semitism and by using some international press organizations. Unfortunately, there are some Turkish press organizations and writers among them."Speaking at the general assembly meeting of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), Prime Minister Erdogan said: "We did our utmost to draw attention of the international community to what happened in the Mediterranean this week. We called on the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to an extraordinary meeting. OIC will convene on Sunday [6 June]. As a result of our initiatives, those who were injured in the raid and volunteers on board the ships were brought back to Turkey.""After recent developments, everyone has seen the fact that Israeli government's hostile attitude terrorizing the region, posed a serious threat against peace and stability in the region. Those hostile policies will not yield any useful results. Israel should scrutinize its policies as soon as possible. We do not have a problem with Jewish people. But the humanity and we have a problem with Israeli administration. I think that Israeli people should give a message to their ruling parties which jeopardized their security and destroyed interests of the country with its reckless policies," he said."Israel tries to justify itself by exploiting anti-Semitism and by using some international press organizations. Unfortunately, there are some Turkish press organizations and writers among them. Anti-semitism is a crime against humanity. I will never allow any maltreatment against Jewish people, tourists and diplomats in Turkey. We assure their security," he said.Referring to economic targets, Prime Minister Erdogan said: "Our target is to become one of the world's first ten economies in 2023. We have adopted an economic understanding based on exports. Our exports increased fourfold to 102bn dollars in the last 7.5 years. Turkish economy became the 17th biggest economy of the world in this process. Now, we aim at increasing our exports up to 500bn dollars by the year 2023. It is not a dream. It is not an uncatchable target."Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1248 gmt 3 Jun 10

6. Turkish, Russian premier discuss Israeli raid on Gaza-aid convoy Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Ankara/Moscow, 3 June: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia on phone under his talks with world leaders following Israeli forces' raid on a convoy of six aid ships which resulted in killing of nine activists.Prime Minister Erdogan said that it was an international aid convoy including activists from 32 countries."There were women and the elderly, and volunteers from three faiths on board the ships. It is impossible to accept such an interception," he said.Russian Prime Minister Putin expressed his sorrow over killing of nine people during the raid.He called on everyone not to escalate tension in the Middle East, adding that they were in favour of lifting of embargo on Gaza.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan invited his Russian counterpart to the conference on "Cooperation in Asia and confidence-building measures" in Istanbul on 8 June.Prime Minister Putin accepted the invitation and the two leaders agreed to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the conference.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1401 gmt 3 Jun 10

7. Abbas to meet Turkish President Gul on Mondayhttp://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=177418

6.3.10

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul on Monday to discuss the Gaza flotilla incident in which nine activists were killed by the IDF, reported AFP.

Abbas is scheduled to meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday.

8. US citizen among dead in flotilla attack-State Dept.

http://alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N03248017.htm

6.3.10

WASHINGTON, June 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Thursday confirmed that a U.S. citizen was killed when Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a fact which may boost pressure for more U.S. involvement in any probe. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley identified the fatality as 19-year old Furkan Dogan, a U.S.-Turkish dual national, and said he had been shot. He declined to give any further detail.

9. Erdogan: Israel is about to lose its biggest friend in regionhttp://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3898642,00.html      Published:     06.03.10, 14:19 / Israel News

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "The relations between Israel and the world will not return to how they were."

 He added, "Israel is about to lose its biggest friend in the region." All nine of the people killed in the Gaza-bound flotilla raid were Turkish citizens. (News agencies)

11. Turkey's military programs with Israel remain in placehttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=military-programs-with-israel-remain-in-place-2010-06-03Thursday, June 3, 2010ÜMİT ENGİNSOYANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s military ties with Israel have not been hindered by the ongoing tension over Israel’s 

killing of civilians on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül says there are no large-scale joint projects, but ongoing programs with Israeli defense companies are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and will continue. In another development, Turkey has suspended all state water and energy projects with Israel

Despite unprecedented tensions between Turkey and Israel over the military attack on a Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza, several defense industry programs between the two countries remain in place.National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül on Tuesday made it clear that Turkey would not cut its defense cooperation with Israel, but said presently there were no large-scale or "serious projects" left anyway.One ongoing program is the delivery process of Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance drone systems made by Israel.After delays of more than two years, an Israeli partnership of Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit managed to formally deliver six Heron unmanned aerial vehicles to the Turkish military in April. Four other Herons are expected later this month or in July, Gönül said.One of the six delivered Herons underwent a moderate accident on the ground, but officials said it would be repaired. Five Herons have started operations.The $183 million Heron contract was signed in 2005, but the program was dogged by technical difficulties from the start.Separately, the Turkish military earlier this year leased a Dominator drone from Israel’s Aeronautics Defense Systems. The military uses the Israeli drones mainly for reconnaissance purposes against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.Other programs

In another ongoing program with Israel, the Turkish land vehicles manufacturer BMC signed a contract last year worth a few hundred million dollars with the Turkish procurement agency to produce a total of 468 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected, or MRAP, vehicles.BMC's model is based on the Navigator vehicle, developed by Israel's Hatehof company. The BMC vehicles will go to the Turkish Army, and are hoped to prove effective against improvised explosive devices planted by the PKK.In addition, Israel's IAI is providing specific radars for Turkish fighter jets and Israel's Elbit is selling some avionic systems in Turkey's program to modernize the aging T-38 trainer aircraft.Also, Turkey's military electronics company, Aselsan, and Israeli Military Industries, which has upgraded 170 Turkish M60 main battle tanks for $670 million, late last year signed an agreement to jointly modernize M60 tanks in the world armies using this specific kind of tank.Despite ongoing cooperation, defense analysts agree that amid the present political tensions, fresh large-scale defense industry deals between Turkey and Israel are highly unlikely in the foreseeable future.Privately, Israeli officials also have voiced reluctance to sell strategically important weapons systems to Turkey. In the most remarkable example, Israel's Arrow 2 system is absent in a Turkish competition to buy the country's first long-range antimissile air defense systems worth between $1 billion and $2 billion. U.S., European, Russian and Chinese companies are eyeing the Turkish contract.Turkey and Israel raised their ties to a strategic partnership degree in the mid-1990s, and in ensuing years Israeli companies won Turkish contracts altogether worth billions of dollars to upgrade F-4 and F-5 fighter aircraft and M60 tanks and sell other weapons.

ANALYSTS:

1. This is what one of my Turkish sources kept stressing to me... that the US was putting pressure on Turkey to work out a deal in the Caucasus that would transit of non-military supplies from Turkey across the Caspian through Central Asia to Afghanistan. Turkey said if you want that route, then help us out on the N-K issue and dealing iwth the Russians

On Jun 3, 2010, at 7:13 AM, Michael Wilson wrote:

Interesting that this comes right after special eurasian energy envoy Richard Morningstar has been there the last few days, and right before the deal will be signed btwn Az and Turkey (though that deal is now more of a signing agreement with details being worked out over the next 6 months.) Also follows on the discussion at week ahead meeting about the possible new US ambo to Azerbaijan. I dont know what it means but Id be interested to find out

Antonia Colibasanu wrote: U.S. Secretary of Defense to discuss Afghan transit in BakuJune 03, 2010 14:32http://interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=168742

BAKU. June 3 (Interfax-AVN) - U.S. Secretary of State Robert Gates will visit Azerbaijan on June 6 - 7, where he will discuss bilateral cooperation with Azeri President Ilkham Aliyev and Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, the U.S. embassy to Azerbaijan told Interfax on Thursday.The discussions will center on Azerbaijan's contribution to transiting non-military supplies to Afghanistan, the embassy reported.