Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey sweep, June 9

Armenia

1. On Wednesday, Armenian lawmakers discussed whether gas price rise has been justified.The issue was put on the National Assembly’s floor on Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun’s initiative.On April 1, 2010, natural gas price for Armenia’s consumers was raised 37.5% form AMD 96 per one cubic meter to AMD 132.

2. The Chairman of National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan heads a delegation on June 10 to Limassol, Cyprus, to attend the European conference of Chairmen of Parliaments.

3. The newly appointed Austrian Ambassador to Armenia Michael Postl presented Wednesday his Credentials to Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, a spokesperson to Armenian State Administration said. Armenian President said he attaches great importance to expanding of bilateral relations with Austria and expressed confidence that Michael Postl will contribute to development of relations between the two countries.

Azerbaijan

1. The Azerbaijani president has urged the USA, Russia and France to force Armenia to accept a peace plan jointly proposed by the three countries, warning that Baku might pull out of peace talks and resort to force to retake rebel Nagornyy Karabakh if that did not happen. "We expect that all the co-chairing countries will put very serious pressure on Armenia," Ilham Aliyev told Azerbaijani journalists in Istanbul on 8 June.

2. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulation to Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva, AzerTaj sate news agency reported. "I sincerely congratulate You and your people on your National holiday- Day of Portugal," the letter says.

3. If 14 years ago the Azerbaijan-European Parliament (EP) relations were based on the promotion, today our relations are based on mutually beneficial cooperation, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov said at the meeting with the EP delegation led by Italian Senator and EP Foreign Relations Committee Deputy Chairman Fiorello Provera.

4. The Azerbaijani Press Council will examine the situation regarding the mobile sale of newspapers and magazines. The decision was taken at the council's meeting June 8, the council reported. The meeting discussed the problems in mobile sale of newspapers and magazines in several districts of Baku.

5. The Azerbaijani president has welcomed President Barack Obama's recent letter as an expression of "goodwill", and signalled that his country would continue its help to the USA in Afghanistan.

Georgia

1. Georgian Ex-Ombudsman Sozar Subari considers normalization of relations with Russia as one of the necessary preconditions for the development of the country. Subari stated about this at the meeting with representatives of public and political circles today.

2. The South Ossetian armed forces will be reformed and their numbers reduced. The republic's acting minister of defence, Ibragim Gasseyev, made a relevant announcement at today's parliament session: "the plan to reform the South Ossetian armed forces includes transitioning to new organizational-staff structures and reducing the number [of troops] in three stages by ten per cent each. The reform is planned to be finished by 30 November 2010."

3. Eastern Georgia, including Tbilisi, was completely de-energized for 20 minutes because of the accident on the 500-kilovolt line "Kartli 2" at 16:15 local time, the Georgia Energy system reported.

Turkey

1. US defence minister Robert Gates said that the EU's refusal to accept Turkey as a member is partly to blame for Ankara's deteriorating relations with Israel and for pushing the country into the arms of Islamic states, a suggestion firmly rejected by Brussels.

2. Turkey has advocated resolving the Iranian issue through diplomacy from the very beginning, Turkish Prime Minister's Office sources said after the United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.

3. Journalist İrfan Aktan has been sentenced to a 15-month prison term for “making terrorist propaganda” based on his quoting of members of an outlawed organization in a news story about the country’s Kurdish issue.

4. Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis met with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom and EU Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fule in Brussels, and held talks at European Parliament on Wednesday.

5. Turkey’s industrial production continued to rise for the fifth consecutive month in April, showing a 17 percent gain over the same month of last year and boosting expectations that the economic growth rate will remain high in the second quarter as well.

6. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he was ready to be appear before a panel looking into last week's violent interception of an aid flotilla to Gaza - but Turkish activists on board the Mavi Marmara should be probed too.

7. A Turkish minister proposed on Wednesday sending a NATO fleet to end an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip following the deaths of nine Turks in a raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

8. Ankara on Wednesday continued to insist that a diplomatic solution to the row over Iran's nuclear programme could be found, even after the UN Security Council voted to impose further sanctions on the country.

9. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a speech at the University of Haifa, "Israel's relations with Turkey have a strategic importance, and a big effort should be made to restore them.”

10. Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız on Wednesday met with senior vice president Mark Albers of Exxon Mobil Corp in the Turkish capital, Ankara. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yıldız said he reviewed with Albers oil and natural gas exploration efforts in the Black Sea as well as future opportunities of cooperation between Turkey's TPAO national oil exploration company TPAO and Exxon Mobile in third countries.

11. The European Union's initial reaction to Israel's deadly attack against an aid flotilla trying to break a naval embargo on the Gaza Strip was 'a joke,' a member of the Turkish government said Wednesday.

12. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the international community should show a fair stance towards countries in the Middle East region that have nuclear weapons, alluding to Israel's possession of nuke.

13. Turkey's prime minister said on Wednesday [9 June] that remaining silent against Israel's recent raid on aid ships in the Mediterranean, which was an unlawful attack in international waters, would open a new wound in the conscience of humanity.

14. The Turkish energy minister said on Wednesday [9 June] that Turkey, as a partner country of Nabucco, had numerous responsibilities such as finding resources for the project.Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz replied to questions after his meeting with Exxon Mobil Corp's senior vice-president in capital Ankara.15. Following the raids of Turkish police on houses at midnight hours in Hakkari, 12 people including BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) executives and DİHA (Dicle News Agency) Hakkari caorrespondent were detained. In addition one person was detained in Şemdinli and Esendere.

16. The third foreign ministers' meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum and the fifth Economy Forum will take place in Istanbul on Thursday.

17. Turkish Speaker Due in Tehran Sunday. The three-day visit will take place at an invitation by Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. 

18. Turkish police conducting raids in four different provinces detained 17 people for suspected links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, Anatolia news agency reported Wednesday.

19. 86 new prisons are going to be build in Turkey. It is what emerged after the answer given by Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin to MP Bengi Yildiz from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). The new prisons would house up to 40 thousand people and will be completed between 2010 and 2015.

Armenia

1. Armenian lawmakers discussing justification of gas price rise

http://www.arka.am/eng/energy/2010/06/09/20254.html

YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. On Wednesday, Armenian lawmakers discussed whether gas price rise has been justified.

The issue was put on the National Assembly’s floor on Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun’s initiative.

Members of this faction have been unhappy about the government’s answer.

That is why Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan has proposed discussion over the matter.

On April 1, 2010, natural gas price for Armenia’s consumers was raised 37.5% form AMD 96 per one cubic meter to AMD 132.

Those consumers using more than 10,000 cubic meters of gas monthly will pay $243.13 per each 1,000 cubic meters instead of former $215.

The minister said that the government had answered the parliamentarians’ request within its competency, and if lawmakers were not happy about the answers discussions will help then reach an accord on the matter.

Artsvik Minasyan, an MP from Dashnaktsutyun, said that the faction put up 12 questions to the government.

The minister said that the government attaches special importance to energy sector and pursues a balanced price policy here, since Armenia is a country having no own energy resources.

He stressed that gas prices have been raised only once in the country. Movsisyan said that questions in Dashnaktsutyun’s request were manly commercial in nature, and the government gave answers to them. ArmRosgasprom CJSC enjoys the sole right for importing and distributing

Russia gas in Armenia. Russia conveys its gas to Armenia through Georgia.

The company was established in 1997. Russian Gazprom holds 80% of the company’s shares, and the remaining 20% belong to Armenian government.

2. NA Chairman heads delegation to Cyprushttp://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/06/09/parliament-kipr/ 17:11 09/06/2010 » PoliticsThe Chairman of National Assembly of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan heads a delegation on June 10 to Limassol, Cyprus, to attend the European conference of Chairmen of Parliaments. The delegation includes Chief of Staff Gegham Gharibjanyan, the Chairman of Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Davit Harutyunyan.   According to the PR and media department Hovik Abrahamyan is going to release a speech on “the rights and obligations of opposition in democratic parliament.” Mr. Abrahamyan has scheduled meetings in Limassol with the President of House of Representatives Marios Karoyan, the President of Swedish Riksdag Per Westerberg and with his other foreign counterparts.  

3. Austrian Foreign Minister to visit Armeniahttp://www.aysor.am/en/news/2010/06/09/austria-ambassador-armenia/ June 09The newly appointed Austrian Ambassador to Armenia Michael Postl presented Wednesday his Credentials to Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, a spokesperson to Armenian State Administration said.Armenian President said he attaches great importance to expanding of bilateral relations with Austria and expressed confidence that Michael Postl will contribute to development of relations between the two countries. According to President Sargsyan, the relations can also be developed within the framework of EU programmes and bilateral projects.Ambassador Postl said of the upcoming visit of Austrian Foreign Minister to Armenia that aims at determination of new cooperation programmes, especially in spheres of culture and economy.Parties shared views on items of Armenia-Turkey relations and settlement to the Karabakh conflict. Ambassador Postl said that Austria is ready to promote Armenia in European integration, settlement to the Karabakh conflict and normalisation of relations with Turkey. 

Azerbaijan

1. Baku calls for pressure on Armenia, threatens to pull out of talks The Azerbaijani president has urged the USA, Russia and France to force Armenia to accept a peace plan jointly proposed by the three countries, warning that Baku might pull out of peace talks and resort to force to retake rebel Nagornyy Karabakh if that did not happen."We expect that all the co-chairing countries will put very serious pressure on Armenia," Ilham Aliyev told Azerbaijani journalists in Istanbul on 8 June.

"If that does not happen and if Armenia continues its tactic of prolonging [peace talks] or formally rejects these principles, naturally Azerbaijan will have to think seriously about the prospect of its participation in these talks and in this process as a whole. We are thinking about this," Aliyev was quoted as saying by the state news agency Azartac.The USA, Russia and France are the co-chairs the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, established in 1992 to mediate a peaceful settlement to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The group has proposed the so-called Madrid principles, according to which Armenian forces have to withdraw from part of the Azerbaijani territory they seized in 1992-1993 before a vote is held in Nagornyy Karabakh to decide the region's status. Azerbaijan has accepted the proposals in principle, but Armenia is yet to reply. "How long should Azerbaijan wait for [Armenia] to reply?," Aliyev asked. "Or how long should the co-chairing countries wait for this answer?" He said Azerbaijan was considering other options to regain control of the territory if Armenia failed to respond positively. "We are considering various options and will try to restore Azerbaijan's territorial integrity by any means. I personally do not doubt that Azerbaijan's territorial integrity will be restored. The only issue is how and when. We want to resolve the issue quickly and peacefully. But Azerbaijan will make serious change in its position if Armenia tries to continue its aggressive policy and if it tries to continue the talks just as imitation," Aliyev said. Source: Azartac news agency, Baku, in Azeri 0000 gmt 8 Jun 1

2. Azerbaijani President congratulates his Portuguese counterparthttp://en.trend.az/news/official/chronicle/1702379.html09.06.2010 20:54Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev sent a letter of congratulation to Portugal's President Anibal Cavaco Silva, AzerTaj sate news agency reported."I sincerely congratulate You and your people on your National holiday- Day of Portugal," the letter says.The Azerbaijani leader expressed hope that the relations between the two countries will develop in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation for prosperity of the two nations.President Aliyev wished Cavaco Silva and his people best regards, prosperity and welfare.

3. Azerbaijani official: Azerbaijan-EP relations based on mutually beneficial cooperation

http://en.trend.az/news/official/parliament/1702315.html09.06.2010 19:24If 14 years ago the Azerbaijan-European Parliament (EP) relations were based on the promotion, today our relations are based on mutually beneficial cooperation, Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov said at the meeting with the EP delegation led by Italian Senator and EP Foreign Relations Committee Deputy Chairman Fiorello Provera, the parliamentary press service reported.

"Integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures is a priority direction in the country development in its foreign policy. The republic's leadership attaches great importance to developing cooperation with an authoritative international organization such as EP," Asadov said.

The meeting noted that Azerbaijan, which dynamically develops with each passing day, strengthens its position in the energy security of Europe. During the meeting, Provera described the country's active participation in the EU projects as a significant event for both parties. Referring to the Azerbaijan- Italy relations, he stressed that they have a wide spectrum.

4. Azerbaijani Press Council to examine situation in mobile sales of newspapers and magazines

http://en.trend.az/news/society/media/1702311.html09.06.2010 20:06The Azerbaijani Press Council will examine the situation regarding the mobile sale of newspapers and magazines. The decision was taken at the council's meeting June 8, the council reported. The meeting discussed the problems in mobile sale of newspapers and magazines in several districts of Baku. The meeting, which brought together members of the Council's Management Board and influential members of the country's media, exchanged views on resolving this problem. The meeting decided to establish an ad hoc group, consisting of the Deputy Press Council, International Eurasian Press Fund Head Umud Ragimoglu and the Management Board member, Chief Editor of "Iki Sahil" Newspaper Vugar Rahimzade. This group will study the situation with the mobile sales of newspapers and magazines in Baku, and prepare a response for the discussion at the board.

5. Azeri leader hails Obama's letter as expression of "goodwill" The Azerbaijani president has welcomed President Barack Obama's recent letter as an expression of "goodwill", and signalled that his country would continue its help to the USA in Afghanistan."The letter is an expression of goodwill. We will continue our cooperation on all issues mentioned in the letter," Ilham Aliyev was quoted as saying by the state news agency Azartac. He was speaking to a group of Azerbaijani reporters in Istanbul on 8 June.In the letter, which US Defence Secretary Robert Gates hand-delivered to Ilham Aliyev on 6 June, Obama praised Azerbaijan for sending military personnel to serve in Afghanistan and opening its land and air space to help resupply US. and NATO forces there."The letter reflects points that we have achieved so far, and I think the letter is more of a serious step taken towards the future," Aliyev said. "I hope that we will add new and additional elements to our cooperation in the years to come." Source: Azartac news agency, Baku, in Azeri 0000 gmt 8 Jun 1

Georgia

1. Georgian ex-ombudsman: Settlement of relations with Russia is one of necessary preconditions for country's development

http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1702305.html09.06.2010 19:01Georgian Ex-Ombudsman Sozar Subari considers normalization of relations with Russia as one of the necessary preconditions for the development of the country. Subari stated about this at the meeting with representatives of public and political circles today. Subari said the Georgian leadership is engaged in only useless criticism of Russia and does not take into account the international community's recommendations for the settlement of relations with Russia. He noted that Georgia had strained relations not only with Russia, but also with Azerbaijan and Armenia. Subari expressed his concerns in a letter published in the press. "Overcoming the confrontation with Russia is one of the main preconditions to restore Georgia's integrity. Despite the unresolved issues, Georgia's policy towards Russia should be adequate and consistent with a political approach, such as U.S. and European countries enjoy in relations with Moscow. It is necessary to restrain emotions and take solutions with a cool head, to create an appropriate environment for finding solutions to problems. The policy of closed doors does not contribute to creation of such environment. Beginning of political and trade relations are of bilateral interests," the letter says.

2. Georgia: South Ossetia to reform military, reduce troop numbers Text of report by Russian state news agency ITAR-TASS Tskhinvali, 9 June: The South Ossetian armed forces will be reformed and their numbers reduced. The republic's acting minister of defence, Ibragim Gasseyev, made a relevant announcement at today's parliament session.As he put it, "the plan to reform the South Ossetian armed forces includes transitioning to new organizational-staff structures and reducing the number [of troops] in three stages by ten per cent each. The reform is planned to be finished by 30 November 2010."Gasseyev noted that during the reform the defence ministry would inevitably run into problem issues, some of whose resolution does not fall within the competence of the ministry but rather requires the work of the whole government."In particular, we do not have a legislative basis for soldiers sent to the reserve to receive social guarantees. The issue of paying one-off monetary allowances to servicemen discharged from the ranks of the armed forces has not been resolved; the issue of providing pensions and housing to discharged servicemen has not been resolved. These laws are located in the republic's government [as received]," Gasseyev said.He also noted that the plan for the reform of the South Ossetian armed forces was elaborated in accordance with the new military doctrine, which in turn was formulated in the light of the republic of South Ossetia's international recognition and the deployment on its territory of Russian Federation military contingents.Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1353gmt 09 Jun 1

3. Eastern Georgia completely de-energized for 20 minutes

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1702329.html09.06.2010 19:31Eastern Georgia, including Tbilisi, was completely de-energized for 20 minutes because of the accident on the 500-kilovolt line "Kartli 2" at 16:15 local time, the Georgia Energy system reported.The subways were stopped due to a power outage and thousands of people catched in the tunnels.

Georgia's energy system has already been restored.

Turkey

1. US blames EU for Turkey foreign policy 'drift'VALENTINA POPToday @ 19:18 CEThttp://euobserver.com/9/30246

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – US defence minister Robert Gates said that the EU's refusal to accept Turkey as a member is partly to blame for Ankara's deteriorating relations with Israel and for pushing the country into the arms of Islamic states, a suggestion firmly rejected by Brussels.

"The deterioration in the relationship between Turkey and Israel over the past year or so is a matter of concern," Mr Gates told reporters in London.

Hundreds of Turks protested in Brussels last week against the Israeli attack (Photo: Valentina Pop)

The conservative Turkish government, whose relations with neighbouring Islamic states such as Syria and Iran have grown closer, has meanwhile put on freeze relations with its former regional ally Israel after nine of its citizens were killed by Israeli commandos on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza.

"I personally think that if there is anything to the notion that Turkey is, if you will, moving eastward, it is, in my view, in no small part because it was pushed, and pushed by some in Europe refusing to give Turkey the kind of organic link to the West that Turkey sought," he argued.

Traditionally a strong US ally and the only Muslim member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation since 1952, Turkey has consistently enjoyed Washington's support in its bid EU membership, for which it applied in 1987.

Formal accession negotiations began in 2005, but progress has been slow and Germany and

France continue to speak of the alternative of a "privileged partnership" instead of full membership at the end of the process.

A spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton rejected Mr Gates' suggestion that there is any link between the EU membership negotiations and Turkey's strained relations with Israel.

"The EU has very good relations with both Turkey and Israel. Turkey is an EU candidate country and Israel an important partner. The bilateral relations between these two countries are not linked with the bilateral relations between the EU and each of these countries," Maja Kocijancic, Ms Ashton's spokeswoman told this website.

"As far as Turkey is concerned, progress in accession negotiations depends on the progress in reforms taking place in Turkey," she added.

Ties between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated in recent years, especially after Tel Aviv's 2008 bombardment of the Gaza Strip that killed some 1,400 civilians and the recent killing of the nine Turkish activists, which prompted Ankara to recall its ambassador, scrap joint military drills and say its relations "will never be as before."

But Turkey's relations with the US itself have also worsened over the last decade, particularly after its refusal to open its skies to international troops bound for Iraq.

Turkish foreign policy chief Ahmet Davutoglu also openly expressed his disappointment at Washington's reaction over the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla, which did not assign blame to the Jewish state and resulted in a watered down reaction from the UN Security Council.

2. Turkey always wanted to resolve Iranian issue "through diplomacy" - officials

Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia

Istanbul, 9 June: Turkey has advocated resolving the Iranian issue through diplomacy from the very beginning, Turkish Prime Minister's Office sources said after the United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.The Prime Minister's Office sources said in a statement that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a series of talks prior to the voting at the UN Security Council."Prime Minister Erdogan talked to US President Barack Obama, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad, Brazilian President [Luiz Inacio] Lula da Silva and Lebanese President Sa'd-al-Din al-Hariri on phone," it said."Turkey voted 'no' and stood behind the Tehran Agreement. Turkey has advocated resolving the Iranian issue through diplomacy from the very beginning. Turkey believes that diplomacy is still an option to solve the problem. Turkey will continue

launching initiatives to this end," it said.The resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions against Iran was approved earlier in the day with 12 'yes' votes, two 'no' votes from Brazil and Turkey, and one abstention from Lebanon.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1643 gmt 9 Jun 1

3. Turkish journalist sentenced to 15 months for 'terrorist propaganda'Wednesday, June 9, 2010Devrim SevimayISTANBUL - Milliyethttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=journalist-sentenced-to-15-months-for-8216terrorist-propaganda8217-2010-06-09

Journalist İrfan Aktan has been sentenced to a 15-month prison term for “making terrorist propaganda” based on his quoting of members of an outlawed organization in a news story about the country’s Kurdish issue.

“It is not like this man said, ‘We will make war, we will destroy,’ and I said, ‘Bravo to you, you are doing a great job,’” the journalist said in response to the sentence handed down Friday, defending his coverage of what he called a newsworthy topic.

Aktan traveled to southeastern Turkey last year to look at how the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government’s initiative for solving the Kurdish problem was being perceived among the region’s people.

For his news analysis story, published in monthly Express in October 2009, Aktan talked to a wide range of people, from local mayors to members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and including women and children. The criminal factors in his report, according to the court, were two paragraphs from an interview with two PKK members and a quote from a PKK official that Aktan took from one of the group’s publications: “There will be no solution without struggle.”

The charges brought against Aktan were “making propaganda for a terrorist organization through the press” and “announcing the opinions of a terrorist organization and helping to sustain these opinions in the public realm.” The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Aktan said Express is not a radical publication and does not praise violence, adding that he is the first reporter in the magazine’s 16-year history to receive such a sentence.

When asked why he used the quote from the PKK publication, Aktan said, “I was looking into the stance of the organization toward the [government’s] initiative for my story and this sentence summarized its answer.”

The two paragraphs of interviews noted by the court included comments from PKK members

saying they would neither “come down from the mountain,” nor leave the group, no matter what the government does. “This is news in a country where the initiative is being discussed,” Aktan said. “What I said was: ‘Look, there is this state of mind. If an initiative is going to occur, know that there is this perspective.’”

The prosecutor of the case, however, decided that such comments might influence young people to join the PKK.

According to Aktan, there is a double standard at work in the case because well-known columnists such as Hasan Cemal from daily Milliyet and Yasemin Çongar from daily Taraf have interviewed high-ranking PKK officials, not just ordinary members of the outlawed group, and did not face legal action. Though he said he is happy they were not similarly charged, Aktan added that it is easy in Turkey to write off reporters who are seen as nothing more than “voice recording devices.”

Aktan said he was among the people who were reporting the actual facts during the process of implementing the Kurdish, or democratic, initiative and suggested he might have offended the government as a result. “We were saying via analyses that the atmosphere of optimism might be misleading,” he said.

All journalists in Turkey can be tried within the scope of the country’s anti-terror law, Aktan said: “The lottery can hit any journalist at any time.”

4. 21:15   (DIP) TURKISH CHIEF NEGOTIATOR MEETS EU COMMISSIONERS IN BRUSSELShttp://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/627.html

Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis met with EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom and EU Commissioner for enlargement Stefan Fule in Brussels, and held talks at European Parliament on Wednesday.   Chief Negotiator Bagis held a press conference after his talks.   Bagis said Turkey has been working resolutely on its EU accession process despite unfair obstacles.   Replying to a question on Israel's raid on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, Bagis said NATO could also launch initiatives regarding the matter and blockade on Gaza should be ended.   (EÖ-UK)

5. Industrial production up by 17 percent in April

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-212548-105-industrial-production-up-by-17-percent-in-april.html

6-9-10Turkey’s industrial production continued to rise for the fifth consecutive month in April,

showing a 17 percent gain over the same month of last year and boosting expectations that the economic growth rate will remain high in the second quarter as well.

                                                                                                                            The Turkish Statistics Institute (TurkStat) on Tuesday released its report on April’s industrial production index, a short-term indicator calculated to measure the well-being of the economy from a production standpoint. According to the data, the calendar-adjusted increase in the industrial production index from April of last year to this year was 17.3 percent. However, the index declined by 2.3 percent from the previous month. When seasonally adjusted, though, the index gained 0.8 percent during this period.

Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergün, in a written statement commenting on the index, noted that the April industrial production index, together with other statistics, indicates that the second quarter will see a high growth in national income, though it is unlikely to exceed the first quarter’s growth rate. “The industrial production index is expected to continue rising considering the latest developments in export figures, capacity utilization rates and both consumer and real sector confidence indices,” the minister stated. Emphasizing the 18.6 percent annual increase in the manufacturing index, Ergün noted that the manufacturing sector is the main component of industrial production and that this impressive rise is a good sign for the coming period.

Turkey is not only striving to overcome the aftereffects of the recent global financial crisis, but it has also entered a new period of rapid growth, which is apparent in the country reports published by several international bodies, the minister noted.

However, despite the improvements, the industrial production is yet to gain its pre-crisis levels. When seasonally adjusted, the index stands at 111.9. This figure was 117.8 in April of 2008.

In the fourth month of the year, the manufacturing sector index rose by 19 percent compared to last year, after calendar adjustment. The utility sector index also saw calendar-adjusted gains of 9.7 percent in the same period, while this figure was 5.2 percent for the mining sector index. On an unadjusted basis, the mining and utility sector indices show similar changes, while the manufacturing sector saw a slightly lower growth rate, rising by 18.6 percent when not taking into account seasonal effects such as natural factors like weather conditions or social, cultural or religious traditions falling in specific seasons.

The sub-industries seeing the biggest year-on-year gains in the fourth month of the year were the electric machine manufacturing industry and metal ore mining, with 52.4 percent and 45.2 percent gains, respectively. Industries involved in durable consumer goods also grew by a strong 25.4 percent during this period. However, the office, computing and accounting equipment manufacture and coal mining industries suffered from the greatest unadjusted losses, with 70.43 percent and 28.64 percent drops, respectively, in April over the same month the previous year. Tobacco producers also saw a drop of 14.13 percent during this period, while transportation vehicle manufacturing experienced a fall of 0.63 percent.

6. Activists must be probed as well as Israel, says Netanyahu (Extra)

Jun 9, 2010, 18:22 GMThttp://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1561992.php/Activists-must-be-probed-as-well-as-Israel-says-Netanyahu-Extra

Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he was ready to be appear before a panel looking into last week's violent interception of an aid flotilla to Gaza - but Turkish activists on board the Mavi Marmara should be probed too.

Any investigative committee should also look into who funded the Turkish ship and the group of several dozen activists who according to Israeli footage used sticks and knives against Israeli naval commandos who boarded the vessel, threw a soldier from the deck and allegedly also attempted to snatch and gun and opened fire.

Nine activists were shot dead by Israeli forces in the operation, eight of them Turkish plus one US national.

Speaking at a conference organized by TheMarker, the financial paper of the Israeli Haaretz daily, Netanyahu said:

'I want the whole truth to come to light.

'So it is important to include answers to questions that have until now been ignored by many actors within the international community.'

'We have to establish who stood behind this extremist group, who financed its members, and how knives, axes and other weapons were brought aboard,' said the Israeli leader.

He added 'large sums' of money were found on board the boats and the committee should investigate what they were 'doing there and for whom they were intended.'

7. NATO fleet could end Gaza blockade: Turk ministerTimothy HeritageBRUSSELSWed Jun 9, 2010 12:47pm EDThttp://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6584AQ20100609

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A Turkish minister proposed on Wednesday sending a NATO fleet to end an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip following the deaths of nine Turks in a raid by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

World

Egemen Bagis, Turkey's chief negotiator with the European Union, said he did not favor an

attack on Israeli vessels enforcing the blockade but that Israel should not be allowed to continue to keep aid out.

Relations between Turkey and Israel have sunk to their lowest level in decades since the Israeli commandos boarded the ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid on May 31.

"I think NATO should send a fleet to put an end to the embargo," Bagis, whose country is a member of NATO but not the EU, told reporters during a visit to Brussels.

Asked if this might involve a NATO attack on Israeli vessels enforcing the blockade, he said: "There needs to be no attack."

He said one option would be for the NATO fleet to take humanitarian aid, adding that this was his personal idea and he had not discussed it with the rest of the Turkish government.

"The fleet is just one option. Maybe (we could end the blockade) through dialogue, diplomacy," he said.

Israel says its Gaza blockade is necessary to limit weapons smuggling to Hamas Islamists, who run the enclave.

DEMANDS FOR END TO ISRAELI BLOCKADE

Bagis, visiting Brussels for talks with members of the European Parliament and the executive European Commission, made clear Turkey would welcome more international support for ensuring Israel lifts the blockade on Gaza.

He regretted an initial EU statement on the Israeli raid made by foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

"The first statement by Mrs Ashton when she said Israel should start an inquiry was a joke. But later on in the day when she issued a written statement, calling for an impartial, objective inquiry and criticizing Israel in very strong terms, it was appreciated," he said.

He made clear Turkey would also have welcomed stronger criticism by Washington of its Israeli alies at the United Nations Security Council.

"Although we might not see eye to eye on some issues with the Americans, their attitude at the Security Council toward condemning Israel was not what we would expect or hope for," Bagis said.

Turkey's negotiations on joining the 27-country EU are making slow progress, partly because of opposition from the governments in France and Germany.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in London he feared Europe's rebuff of Turkey's EU aspirations was pushing it "eastward." But Bagis said no connection should be made between

Turkey's relations with Israel and with the EU.

"Last time I checked, there was no pre-requisite for negotiating countries to become members (of the EU) based on their relations with Israel. I think that's mixing apples and oranges," he said.

8. Turkey insists on diplomatic solution to Iran after sanctions vote

Jun 9, 2010, 19:16 GMThttp://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1562004.php/Turkey-insists-on-diplomatic-solution-to-Iran-after-sanctions-vote

Ankara/Istanbul - Ankara on Wednesday continued to insist that a diplomatic solution to the row over Iran's nuclear programme could be found, even after the UN Security Council voted to impose further sanctions on the country.

Turkey was one of only two countries, along with Brazil, on the 15-member UN Security Council to vote against the fresh sanctions.

'Turkey is convinced that diplomacy remains an option in solving the problem,' the Turkish news agency Anadolu quoted an official from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office as saying.

'Turkey will continue to start initiatives to this end,' the official added.

Earlier Wednesday, 12 out of the council's 15 members voted for imposing further sanctions on Iran. Brazil and Turkey voted against, while Lebanon abstained.

The West accuses Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons programme.

9. Olmert: Don't push Turkey into axis of evil

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3902855,00.htmlPublished: 06.09.10, 19:10 / Israel News Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a speech at the University of Haifa, "Israel's relations with Turkey have a strategic importance, and a big effort should be made to restore them.  "Do we want to push Turkey into the axis of evil, or keep it as a buffer between the axis of evil and Israel?" said Olmert. (Ahiya Raved)

10. Turkish energy minister meets Exxon Mobil's vice president

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-212593-105-turkish-energy-minister-meets-exxon-mobils-vice-president.html

6-9-10Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız on Wednesday met with senior vice president Mark Albers of Exxon Mobil Corp in the Turkish capital, Ankara.                                                                                                                           

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yıldız said he reviewed with Albers oil and natural gas exploration efforts in the Black Sea as well as future opportunities of cooperation between Turkey's TPAO national oil exploration company TPAO and Exxon Mobile in third countries.

Yıldız said a new drilling platform would arrive in the Black Sea in the second quarter of 2011, adding that TPAO and Exxon Mobile would take part in a consortium with the Brazilian Petrobras in exploration efforts.

Albers said on his part that two new oil wells would be opened in the Black Sea port province of Sinop in the second quarter of 2011.

11. EU initial reaction to Gaza attack "a joke": Turkish minister http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1561967.php/EU-initial-reaction-to-Gaza-attack-a-joke-Turkish-ministerJun 9, 2010, 16:44 GMT

Brussels - The European Union's initial reaction to Israel's deadly attack against an aid flotilla trying to break a naval embargo on the Gaza Strip was 'a joke,' a member of the Turkish government said Wednesday. The May 31 incident, which caused the death of eight Turks plus a US citizen of Turkish descent, outraged Turkish opinion and rocked relations between Israel and Turkey. The EU's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, initially reacted by calling for 'a full and immediate inquiry by the Israeli authorities.' The Turkish chief negotiator with the EU, Egemen Bagis, criticised that, saying, 'Ashton's first statement that Israel should start an inquiry was a joke. You don't ask an attacker to inquire its own attack.' However he said that Ashton's later statement asking for 'an immediate, full and impartial inquiry' was 'appreciated' by Turkey. Turkey had straddled an uncomfortable contradiction in the Middle East, enjoying friendly relations with the Israelis on one side and the Palestinians and the rest of the Arab world on the other. The attack appears to have wrecked that. 'We should not let Israel go on with this act of bullying. This is not a Turkish issue, this is an international, diplomatic crisis,' Bagis said during a visit to Brussels.

Israel maintains the attack was necessary to prevent Hamas, the radical organization running Gaza, from getting hold of cement which would be used to build bunkers against Israeli attacks. The EU and the US consider Hamas a terrorist organisation, and therefore shun all official contact with it. But Bagis said 'sanctions in the past did not get any positive results' and said 'the international community should try engagement.' He also suggested NATO 'should send a fleet to the Middle East' to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, ending the Israeli embargo. He stressed this was 'a very imaginative and ... personal idea, not of my government,' but also said that 'Turkey presenting such a proposal to NATO is an option.' Turkey has adopted an increasingly assertive foreign policy while its EU membership struggles to overcome obstacles posed by the Cyprus issue and hostility from France and Germany. Bagis said his country 'does not expect to become a member tomorrow, but wants fair play' on the continuation of EU accession talks.

12. World should do justice to countries with nuclear weapons: Turkish PMEnglish.news.cn   2010-06-09 22:37:13     FeedbackPrintRSShttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-06/09/c_13342165.htm

ISTANBUL, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the international community should show a fair stance towards countries in the Middle East region that have nuclear weapons, alluding to Israel's possession of nuke.

Without naming Israel directly, the Turkish prime minister said the international community, which shows a rightful sensitivity against the so-called Iran's possession of nuclear weapons, must show the same reaction to nuclear weapons of other countries in the region.

Erdogan made the remarks in Istanbul while addressing the Millennium Development Goals Regional Conference organized by Turkey's State Planning Organization, UN Development Program (UNDP) and UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).

He said "all countries in the world must know that crimes they committed and rules they violated will not be unreciprocated. A fair stance must be displayed against these states."

Reiterating that Turkey does not want nuclear weapons in the region, Erdogan recalled that Turkey and Brazil signed a uranium swap deal with Iran, saying it was "a diplomatic victory."

Relations between Turkey and Israel took a turn for the worse while Turkey takes all chances to condemn Israel for the Gaza- bound aid flotilla, which left eight Turkish citizens dead.

13. Turkish PM calls for global reaction against Israel; defends Iran swap deal Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia on 9 June

Istanbul: Turkey's prime minister said on Wednesday [9 June] that remaining silent against Israel's recent raid on aid ships in the Mediterranean, which was an unlawful attack in international waters, would open a new wound in the conscience of humanity.Speaking at the "Millennium Development Goals Regional Conference" held in Istanbul by Turkey's State Planning Organization, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on last week's Israeli attack that killed 9 people and wounded many others."Keeping silent one more time against this totally unlawful attack in international waters and ignoring this attack again like it was done in the past, will open a new wound in the conscience of humanity," Erdogan said.Erdogan said that a state's irresponsible, unthoughtful and reckless breach of law would do harm to people's perception of justice, as well as the reliability of international organizations."If we are talking about global peace, we should display a humanistic, fair, decisive and brave stance against such illegalities," Erdogan said.The Turkish premier also said that those remaining silent would be participating in and legitimizing such violent attacks.Erdogan said Wednesday that the international community should show a fair stance and react to not only Iran but also other regional countries that have nuclear weapons.Erdogan said, "all countries in the world must know that crimes they committed and rules they violated will not be unreciprocated. A fair stance must be displayed against these states."Reiterating that Turkey does not want nuclear weapons in its region, Erdogan recalled that Turkey and Brazil signed a uranium swap deal with Iran which he said was "a diplomatic victory."Erdogan said Turkey and Brazil achieved a diplomatic victory for the sake of regional and global peace.""The international community, which shows a rightful sensitivity against Iran's having nuclear weapons, must show the same reaction to nuclear weapons of other countries in the region," he said."There must be a reaction that could satisfy everyone."Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1004 gmt 9 Jun 10

14. Energy minister comments on Turkey's responsibilities as Nabucco partner Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia on 9 June Ankara: The Turkish energy minister said on Wednesday [9 June] that Turkey, as a partner country of Nabucco, had numerous responsibilities such as finding resources for the project.Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz replied to questions after his meeting with Exxon Mobil Corp's senior vice-president in capital Ankara.Upon a question on whether it was possible for Turkey to sell the gas it got from Shah Deniz II to Europe via Nabucco, Yildiz said:"I feel like, as the partner of Nabucco, we have a lot of responsibilities so as to find resources for this project".Pointing to Turkey's good communication with other countries and its growing efficiency in the region, Yildiz said Turkey could implement a successful transfer project by including countries like Iraq and Turkmenistan in the process.

Commenting on the decision to be taken by the United Nations Security Council on Iran's uranium swap, Yildiz said Turkey supported the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."Turkey is against any framework that will go beyond peaceful motives," Yildiz said, adding such stance of his country would continue.Repyling to another question on whether a nuclear energy deal would be signed during the Turkish president's upcoming visit to South Korea, Yildiz said South Korea's offer on the construction of nuclear power plants in the Black Sea province of Sinop would be assessed.The Turkish energy minister said technical studies on the issue had not been completed yet and Turkey needed approximately one more month to conclude the process.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1104 gmt 9 Jun 1

15. New wave of arrests in Hakkarihttp://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=29009 June 2010

Twelve people arrested in the early hours of the morning in Hakkari, Semdinli. Among them many BDP members

Following the raids of Turkish police on houses at midnight hours in Hakkari, 12 people including BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) executives and DİHA (Dicle News Agency) Hakkari caorrespondent were detained. In addition one person was detained in Şemdinli and Esendere.

Police carried out raids at around 01.30 at night on the houses of BDP executives and members. Among the people arrested are BDP Hakkari Provincial Chairman M. Sıddık Akış, BDP General Center worker Baki Uğurlu, BDP Center County Chairman Seyhan Şahin, BDP Hakkari Co-Chairman Emine Akboğa, party workers Hivzullah Kansu, Hüsna Sağın, Fatma Duman, Alderman Tahir Koç and Dicle News Agency Hakkari correspondent Hamdiye Çiftçi. 

SEARCH ON BDP BUILDING IN YUKSEKOVA

Yüksekova BDP building was also searched by Anti-Terrorism teams at early hours today. While there is no detainees reported, 3 computers and the signatures which were collected for the freedom of imprisoned politicians of KCK operations, were taken by security forces. 

RAIDS ON HOMES IN ŞEMDİNLİ AND ESENDERE

On the other hand, it was reported that BDP Ex- County Chairman Emrullah Öztürk was detained during the raids in Şemdinli. The house of BDP Esendere Chairman and the party building were also searched. 

16. Turkish, Arab FMs set to meet in Istanbul on ThursdayThe third foreign ministers' meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum and the fifth Economy Forum will take place in Istanbul on Thursday.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59704The third foreign ministers' meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum and the fifth Economy Forum will take place in Istanbul on Thursday.

Prior to Thursday's meetings, high-level officials of participating countries got together on Wednesday to discuss the agenda of meetings.

A joint opening ceremony will be held at Ciragan Palace Thursday morning.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is expected to host a luncheon in honor of visiting ministers and hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of forums the same day.

17. Turkish Speaker Due in Tehran SundayJUNE 9 2010http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8903190970TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin plans to visit Tehran on Sunday.

The three-day visit will take place at an invitation by Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani. 

Sahin is slated to meet with senior Iranian officials to discuss bilateral ties and exchange views over regional and international developments. 

A number of senior Iranian officials, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki were in Turkey in recent days. 

Ahmadinejad was in Istanbul on Monday to attend the high-profile international Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). 

18. Turkish police hold 17 for al-Qaeda linkshttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-police-hold-17-for-al-qaeda-links-2010-06-09

Wednesday, June 9, 2010ANKARA – Agence France-PresseTurkish police conducting raids in four different provinces detained 17 people for suspected links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network, Anatolia news agency reported Wednesday.The operation began Tuesday in the Central Anatolian province of Konya and was continued in three other provinces, the agency said.In January, 120 suspects were detained in a massive dawn sweep across the country.Law enforcement officers have regularly targeted al-Qaeda since the group was blamed for a series of deadly bombings in Istanbul in November 2003.

A Turkish cell of Al-Qaeda was held responsible for four truck-bomb attacks on two synagogues, the British consulate and a British bank in Istanbul in the 2003 attacks that killed 63 people, including the British consul, and left hundreds injured.Seven men were jailed for life in 2007 over the bombings, among them a Syrian national who was convicted of masterminding and financing the attacks.

19. Turkey to build 86 new prisonshttp://en.firatnews.com/index.php?rupel=article&nuceID=28509 June 2010

New prisons to house up to 40 thousand people to be completed by 201586 new prisons are going to be build in Turkey. It is what emerged after the answer given by Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin to MP Bengi Yildiz from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP). The new prisons would house up to 40 thousand people and will be completed between 2010 and 2015. 

At present the capacity of the prisons has increased by 10 percent since 2002 and the prisons are suffering heavy overcrowding problem. 

According to figures given by the minister, Turkey is spending a lot for prisons instead of allocating resources to other important public institution. Around two billion Turkish liras will be spent until 2015 to complete new prisons. 32 prisons will be completed by end of the 201