Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey sweep, May 26

Armenia

1. The NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking at a joint briefing with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Brussels on 25 May, has reiterated that his organization is not involved in the Karabakh settlement. He added that NATO backed a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict and that he did not see NATO's military intervention in it.

2. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, visiting Belgium, has discussed issues related to the development of Armenian-Belgian cooperation with Armand de Decker, the Chairman of Belgian Senate. Agreements have been made to commit mutual visits. The international recognition of Armenian Genocide, the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties and the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have also been discussed at the meeting.

3. Thousands of activists from Armenia's main opposition alliance held a public rally on May 24 in the country's second-largest city, Gyumri, during which they denounced the policies of the current government and called for snap elections.

Azerbaijan

1. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has declared five members of Russia's lower house personae non gratae for observing parliamentary elections in the disputed area of Nagorny Karabakh, a spokesman for the ministry said on May 26.

2. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Romania does not recognize the legitimacy of the parliamentary election organized on 23 May in Nagorno-Karabakh Province.

3. The U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar and Jonathan Elkind, First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy will arrive in Baku to attend the 17th International Exhibition and Conference "Oil and Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals" Caspian Oil & Gas, to be held from June 1 to 4 in Azerbaijan, the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan said. The exhibition is expected to be attended by about 300 companies from 26 countries worldwide.

4. Israel is interested in increasing the number of gas suppliers to its market, National Infrastructures Ministry Director-General Shaul Zemach said today. He said that Israel has a clear interest to expand its ties with Azerbaijan in all fields and mainly in alternative and renewable energy sources. Regarding the possibility of acquiring Azerbaijani gas, he said it is still early to determine anything as the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are not concluded yet.

5. The Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Azerbaijan sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan concerning the parliamentary elections in Nagorno-Karabakh. The document highlights Norway's support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the belief in peacefully resolving the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group.

6. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko plans to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan in the coming days, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belarus Ali Nagiyev said at a news conference in Minsk.Nagiyev said the two countries' leaders will discuss a wide range of issues during their meeting.

7. The first meeting of the Azerbaijani-Lithuanian intergovernmental commission for cooperation was held in Vilnius on May 25, the Lithuanian Embassy in Azerbaijan said. During the meeting they discussed issues related to economic cooperation between countries, as well as other relevant issues.

8. Defense Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Colonel-General Safar Abiyev made a working visit to Russia. The visit was realized on the invitation of the Defense Minister of Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov, press service of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said. The defense ministers will discuss the regional security issues, development and prospects of the military cooperation.

9. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said today about Nagorno-Karabakh that "It needs to hold elections with the participation of the two communities, which should determine the further status within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan"Azerbaijani FM will meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in early June.

Georgia

1. Georgia on May 26 celebrated its Day of Independence with a military parade and the opening of a new memorial monument.

2. For the occasion of Georgia’s Independence Day, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said that despite many challenges, Georgia has managed to emerge unscathed and continues a steady progress towards development and Euro-Atlantic integration.

3. Iran and Georgia agreed on lifting visa requirements. Georgian Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said in a press conference that the move to lift visa requirements for Iranian visitors will leave no effect on Tbilisi's ties with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will visit Georgia in August and Iran and Georgia will decide during the visit on a date for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Tbilisi.

4. Georgia's border guards said they could not confirm Turkish news reports claiming that a powerful explosion occurred at the border of the two countries on May 25.

Turkey

1. Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on May 25 that "current condition prevailing in the Caucasus is in no one's interest," Gul told reporters during his visit to Kazakhstan. "If these issues cannot be solved within one or two years, it would take at least 10 years more [to reach a solution]. And it is in no one's interest," Gul said.

2. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Brazil on Wednesday for a formal visit on the first leg of his tour of Brazil, Argentina and Chile. The aim of the visits is to deepen Turkey's developing cooperation opportunities with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.Erdoğan was scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He will then meet Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera on May 31. 3. Turkish President Abdullah Gul addressed Kazakh parliamentarians on May 26. He said that when Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line - which would connect Far East with European markets in a fast and secure way - was completed, Turkey and Kazakhstan would have taken an important step to revive historical Silk Road. Gul also said that Turkey extended full support to constructive efforts of Turkish Cypriots during Cyprus talks, and added that Turkey expected Kazakhstan to support rights of Turkish Cypriots.

4. Turkish President Abdullah Gul attended opening of the Turkish Academy in Astana.5. UN meeting on inalienable rights of Palestinians opened on May 26 in Turkey. Israel officials will not attend the meeting.

6. Turkish first deputy ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Berk Ece officially denied reports that ousted Kyrgyz president Kurmanbek Bakiyev was in Turkey.

7. The leaders of Turkey and Kazakhstan have agreed to take joint steps to help to restore calm in Kyrgyzstan and “to prevent further escalation of events in Kyrgyzstan”, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said.

8. Turkish miners staged a one-hour strike on May 26 in Karadon mine to draw attention to the recent mine blast, in which 30 workers were killed. Turk-Is Director General Mustafa Kumlu said that mining was an indispensable sector, adding that it was the responsibility of employers to reduce the risk to minimum level.

9. Turkish Security Directorate General will begin to give biometric passports, as of 1 June.

10. Kurdistan Region's President Massoud Barzani will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in early June. Barzani  has requested to meet the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and  the Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan as well.

11. 19th International Congress of the Muslim Brotherhood Convention will be held in Istanbul with leaders of many communities around the world. Programs will be held between May 26 to June 2.

12. Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met on Wednesday with Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek on the occasion of his visit to the country.

13. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey's trade volume with Latin American countries had been 1bn US dollars in the beginning of 2000s and it had reached 5.5bn dollars in the recent period.

14. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on May 25 that last week's phone conversation between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obamas was not tense. On 20 May, Obama spoke with Erdogan by phone to discuss Iran's nuclear programme. Some media reports claimed that it was a "tense conversation."

15. At least four members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed on Wednesday in clashes with the Turkish military in the mountainous province of Tunceli, security sources said. Hundreds of Turkish soldiers are participating in the operation against PKK militants in the region of eastern Turkey.

16. Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin met with South Africa's Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in Ankara on May 25. Expressing belief that Motlanthe's visit would further strengthen relations between Turkey and South Africa, Sahin said that South African Republic was the biggest trade partner of Turkey in Sub-Saharan Africa and that trade volume with South Africa was 2.7bn US dollars in 2008.

17. A complex of buildings of the Turkish embassy in Kazakhstan opened in Astana today in the presence of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Kazakh State Secretary and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev.

18. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Tigipko said that “Year 2010 will become token for deepening of the interstate relations between Ukraine and Turkey”.

19. Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Mehdi Mostafavi said in a meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc on Wednesday in Ankara that a friendly Tehran-Ankara relation would help global stability.In a meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, he said Iran-Turkey all-out cooperation will positively influence regional and international developments.

Armenia

1. NATO not involved in Karabakh settlement, chief says - Armenian TV

The NATO secretary-general has reiterated that his organization is not involved in the Karabakh settlement, Armenian Public TV has reported.Anders Fogh Rasmussen was speaking at a joint briefing with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Brussels on 25 May. He added that NATO backed a peaceful solution to the Karabakh conflict and that he did not see NATO's military intervention in it, Armenian Public TV said."NATO is not involved as a party to this conflict. We have partnerships with the parties involved in it and we call on our partners to find a peaceful solution, but I don't envisage any armed involvement by NATO," Rasmussen told the briefing, according to Armenian Public TV.Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said at the briefing that he had never heard that NATO was not involved in the Karabakh settlement in any way, the channel said."The OSCE Minsk Group is dealing with the Karabakh issue. Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of the Council of Europe, and European entities are actually dealing both with the settlement of the issue and mending our relations. As far as I understand, NATO is responsible also for the security of Europe. And as far as I understand, Europe has no other armed forces," Sargsyan said at the news conference, according to the TV report. The channel also quoted Sargsyan as saying that at the same time this did not mean that NATO would by all means come to the region if war started there.The Armenian leader also praised the professional qualifications and level of armament of the Armenian army and said the latter was ready to fully implement its tasks, the TV station added.

In the meantime, the Armenian news agency Arminfo quoted the NATO secretary-general as saying that Armenia has recorded significant progress in the implementation of the Individual Partnership Plan with NATO and added that this work should be continued especially in the line of democratic reforms.The Armenian president expressed hope that NATO would stick to a balanced position in the Karabakh settlement, Arminfo added.Speaking about Armenia's relations with Turkey, Sargsyan reiterated that Turkey was seeking a failure of the normalization of ties with his country, Arminfo said in a separate report on 26 May.Sources: Armenian Public TV, Yerevan, in Armenian, 0800 gmt 26 May 10; Arminfo news agency, Yerevan, in Russian, 0532 gmt 26 May 10; Arminfo news agency, Yerevan, in Russian, 0533 gmt 26 May 10

2. President Serzh Sargsyan had meeting with Chairman of Belgian Senatehttp://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2010/05/26/belgium1/17:08 26/05/2010 » PoliticsPresident of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has discussed issues related to the development of Armenian-Belgian cooperation with Armand de Decker, the Chairman of Belgian Senate. President’s press service reported Serzh Sargsyan esteemed bilateral ties based on good relations and mutual understanding. President Sargsyan underscored that political dialogue, inter-parliamentary, trade-economic, scientific, education and cultural links stand on high standards.   

President Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that after Belgium accepts EU presidency Armenian-Belgian cooperation including bilateral ties and ties within the European Union would launch quite new phase. The interlocutors have reinforced significance to improve parliamentary ties. Agreements have been made to commit mutual visits.  The international recognition of Armenian Genocide, the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties and the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have also been discussed at the meeting.

3. Armenian Opposition Holds Rally In Second-Largest City http://www.rferl.org/content/Armenian_Opposition_Holds_Rally_In_SecondLargest_City/2053163.html   May 26, 2010 GYUMRI, Armenia -- Thousands of activists from Armenia's main opposition alliance held a public rally in the country's second-largest city, Gyumri, during which they denounced the policies of the current government and called for snap elections, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

A number of high-profile opposition leaders addressed the opposition supporters on May 24 in Gyumri's central square. They criticized the government on many issues.

Former Prime Minister Hrant Bagratian criticized government policy that he said has led to rising prices for natural gas. Many residents in Gyumri, which is known for its cold spring weather, still heat their homes with gas heaters.

Aram Sarkisian, the leader of the opposition Hanrapetutiun party, blamed the government for

allowing a European Parliament resolution calling "for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from all occupied territories of Azerbaijan."

He called the resolution "very dangerous."

Former Deputy Prosecutor-General Gagik Jahangirian raised the issue of the fate of more than a dozen jailed opposition members. He said the activists remained resolute despite poor health conditions and "unfair isolation."

Aram Manukian, a senior member of the Armenian National Congress, an opposition party led by former President Levon Ter-Petrossian, said the choice of Gyumri for the rally was no accident.

Manukian said the city had provided the broadest response to the opposition's campaign in April against rising natural gas prices.

Manukian also called Armenia's northern province of Shirak "an islet of freedom." Three local television stations there ran announcements ahead of the planned opposition rally in Gyumri, Shirak's provincial capital.

Such televised publicity is something opposition rallies would not have received in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

Azerbaijan

1. Five Russian lawmakers declared personae non gratae for observing Karabakh polls

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100526/159169547.html

19:4926/05/2010

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has declared five members of Russia's lower house personae non gratae for observing parliamentary elections in the disputed area of Nagorny Karabakh, a spokesman for the ministry said on Wednesday.

"The decision is final. This list may be extended," Elkhan Pulukhov said.

However, he conceded, the measure might be reviewed if the five lawmakers admit that their involvement in monitoring the elections was "deliberate malice."

The predominantly ethnic Armenian region, at the center of a dispute between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia since the late 1980s, elected its 33-seat parliament on May 23 with a voter turnout of almost 68%.

Konstantin Zatulin, one of those declared persona non grata, said the decision was a "demonstrative measure."

"I was an observer during presidential and parliamentary elections in Nagorny Karabakh more than once," the lawmaker said, adding it was "surprising" that his decision to take part in monitoring the

polls sparked such a reaction "for the first time."

The other members from the State Duma considered persona non grata in Azerbaijan are Igor Chernyshenko, Kirill Cherkasov, Tatyana Volozhinskaya, and Maxim Mishchenko.

Azerbaijani officials have called the elections in Nagorny Karabakh "illegal," saying they could seriously harm Armenian-Azerbaijani peace efforts.

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorny Karabakh first erupted in 1988, when the region claimed independence from Azerbaijan to join Armenia.

Over 30,000 people are estimated to have died on both sides between 1988 and 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed. Nagorny Karabakh has remained in Armenian control and tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia have persisted.

The conflict has been mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group that comprises the United States, Russia and France.

2. Romania says Nagorno-Karabakh 23 May general election not lawful Text of report in English by Romanian government news agency Agerpres Bucharest, 25 May: Romania does not recognize the legitimacy of the parliamentary election organized on 23 May in the self-styled Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) in a release sent to Agerpres on Tuesday [25 May]."Romania does not recognize the legitimacy of this step and wants to reiterate the position it has constantly supported of non recognizing the independence of the region of Nagorno-Karabakh," informs MAE.The ministry states again its support to the peacefully negotiated settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and appeals to the sides involved to give an impetus to the negotiating process. Romania also states again its support to the activity carried out by the OSCE Minsk Group, as a sole negotiating format for determining the future status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.The separatist province of Nagorno-Karabakh last Sunday organized parliamentary elections, whose legitimacy was not recognized by any state, as the AFP and Reuters inform. The small mountainous region, mainly inhabited by Christian Armenians, proclaimed its independence from Azerbaijan in the early 90s after a war ending in about 30,000 dead. Its independence is not recognized by any state the world over.Source: Agerpres news agency, Bucharest, in English 1639 gmt 25 May 10

3. Representatives of energy agencies of different countries to arrive in Baku to attend exhibition and conference Caspian Oil & Gas

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1694126.html

26.05.2010 12:19The U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy Richard Morningstar and Jonathan Elkind, First Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy will arrive in Baku to attend the 17th International Exhibition and Conference "Oil and Gas, Refining and Petrochemicals" Caspian Oil & Gas, to be held from June 1 to 4 in Azerbaijan, the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan said.

The British delegation will be represented by the advisor on energy issues in the Caspian region of the British Government Angus Miller and Deputy Head of the Department of Climate Change and Energy in the British Ministry of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Harriet Matthews.

The organizers of the exhibition are the British ITE Group and the Commercial and industrial Chamber of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The exhibition is expected to be attended by about 300 companies from 26 countries worldwide.

President of the national company KazMunaiGaz Kairgeldy Kabyldin will arrive in Baku to attend the exhibition and conference.

Also Shaul Zemach, Director General Ministry of National Infrastructures, Director on energy markets and security transportation of the General Directorate of the European Commission on Energy Heinz Gilberht will arrive in Baku.

4. National infrastructures ministry director-general: Israel has clear interest to expand its ties with Azerbaijan in alternative and renewable energy sources

http://en.trend.az/capital/pengineering/1694674.html

26.05.2010 15:25Israel is interested in increasing the number of gas suppliers to its market, National Infrastructures Ministry Director-General Shaul Zemach said in an interview with Trend by e-mail.

"We are interested in having more suppliers to the market place in order to strengthen our energy security," Zemach said.

Zemach said Israeli gas market is privatized and the State of Israel can not purchase gas or oil by itself, since both have to be purchased by companies or other non state actors.

Regarding the possibility of acquiring Azerbaijani gas, Director-General of the Ministry said it is still early to determine anything as the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Turkey are not concluded yet.

According to Zemach, a year ago large gas reservoirs were discovered on the Israeli economic water.

"The studies show that these two big reservoirs contain around 250 BCM, which will be sufficient for Israeli market for the next 20-25 years," Zemach said.According to him, Israel has a clear interest to expand its ties with Azerbaijan in all fields and mainly in alternative and renewable energy sources.He said this can be done through cooperation in research and development which Israel is ready to share. Through the years, Israel has invested tremendous resources in r&d of the solar energy as well as in water technologies and management, in order to provide the energy and water resources need of a small and isolated state. We are ready and interested to share our  vast experience in this fields," Zemach said.

Speaking about Israeli-offered project on transportation of Azerbaijani oil via the Eilat-Ashkelon

pipeline, Zemach said currently there is no progress on this frontier as the issue has to be explored and decided by the private sector which has to determine whether this project is visible and economic."The government has a clear interest to support this project, but as I have mentioned earlier, the oil and gas sectors are privatized and therefore, the companies themselves have to decide their economic interest in this project," Zemach said.

5. Norway does not recognize "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh

http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1694867.html

26.05.2010 19:51The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan has received a letter from the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway concerning the fictitious "parliamentary elections" in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Ministry reported.

The document highlights Norway's support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the belief in peacefully resolving the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group.

6. Belarusian president intends to pay official visit to Azerbaijan25.05.2010 16:24 http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1694010.html

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko plans to soon pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Belarus Ali Nagiyev was quoted as saying by BELTA.

"Lukashenko will visit Azerbaijan in the coming days," Nagiyev said at a news conference in Minsk.

He said the visit should provide a major impetus for the further development of Belarus-Azerbaijan relations. Nagiyev said there are no issues in political, economic or humanitarian cooperation that Belarus and Azerbaijan cannot jointly resolve.

Speaking about Lukashenko's forthcoming visit, Nagiyev said the two countries' leaders will discuss a wide range of issues during their meeting. He did not rule out that the presidents will also discuss cooperation in the energy sector. He stressed that Azerbaijan is open for cooperation and ready to participate in various projects, including Nabucco, and Odessa-Brody.

Regarding possible cooperation between Belarus and Azerbaijan in the energy sector, Nagiyev said the countries' experts have already discussed this issue. Representatives of ministries were engaged in talks, he said.

"There are no issues there. The sides must reach an agreement that will be economically beneficial to both countries," Nagiyev said.

7. Azerbaijan, Lithuania discuss cooperation prospects http://en.trend.az/print/1694816.html

 26.05.2010 18:07

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 26 / Trend /The first meeting of the Azerbaijani-Lithuanian intergovernmental commission for cooperation was held in Vilnius on Wednesday, the Lithuanian Embassy in Azerbaijan said.During the meeting they discussed issues related to economic cooperation between countries, as well as other relevant issues.From the Azerbaijani side the commission is headed by Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammadov, the Lithuanian - Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Azubalis. Mammadov met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius and foreign minister Audronius Azubalis, the report said. Besides discussing issues related to economic cooperation, Ministers exchanged views on the importance of bilateral investment cooperation in the fields of information technology, environment, health and social protection.Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania in January-March of this year totaled 2.1 million, reducing by 30.7 percent.

8. Azerbaijani defense minister visits Russiahttp://www.news.az/articles/16249 Wed 26 May 2010 | 07:11 GMT Text size: Defense Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Colonel-General Safar Abiyev made a working visit to Russia.The visit was realized on the invitation of the Defense Minister of Russian Federation Anatoly Serdyukov, press service of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan said.The defense ministers will discuss the regional security issues, development and prospects of the military cooperation 9. FM: Final stage in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement will be establishing Azerbaijani flag over Khankendi

http://en.trend.az/news/politics/foreign/1694879.html

Azerbaijan, Baku, May 26 /Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva/

Now it is difficult to talk about the time of completion of the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but the final step will be that the Azerbaijani flag will again fly over Khankendi, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov briefed the media on May 26.

"It needs to hold elections with the participation of the two communities, which should determine the further status within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan," he said.According to the minister, he will meet with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in early June.

"We will discuss the results of the meeting of co-chairs with Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, which was held in Brussels in May," Mammadyarov said.

According to him, the Azerbaijani side should discuss with the co-chairs the next step of the negotiation process, but only if the Armenian side agrees with the updated Madrid principles.

Commenting on Barack Obama's nominating Matthew Bryza as an ambassador to Azerbaijan, the foreign

minister said that it was approved by the Azerbaijani side, but for Bryza's appointment of an ambassador, certain procedures should take place in the U.S. Senate.

Georgia

1. Georgia marks Independence Day

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-05/26/c_13317626.htm

TBILISI, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Georgia on Wednesday celebrated its Day of Independence with a military parade and the opening of a new memorial monument.

"Today, one of the oldest nations is celebrating the Day of Independence and its young sovereignty. This is the most precious day for the freedom-loving nation," President Mikheil Saakashvili said in a public speech.

The presidential address was followed by a military parade at the central avenue of the capital city involving thousands of troops and military equipment and aircraft.

Saakashvili also attended the opening ceremony for a new memorial monument in Tbilisi, which he said was dedicated to heros who died fighting for the unity and territorial integrity of the Caucasus country.

2. Georgian president congratulates people on Independence Day Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has said that despite many challenges, Georgia has managed to emerge unscathed and continues a steady progress towards development and Euro-Atlantic integration.Saakashvili made the statement in an address to the participants of a military parade held outside the parliament building in Tbilisi for the occasion of Georgia's Independence Day on 26 May. His speech continued for about 13 minutes and was broadcast live by all major nationwide channels - Rustavi-2, Imedi, and Channel One.Saakashvili mainly drew on the importance of Georgia's centuries-long experience of struggle for freedom and stressed, in an apparent reference to Russia, that despite the "enemy's" efforts to subjugate his nation, his country's ultimate independence was "irreversible"."This day is perhaps the most cherished day for every Georgian, because there is nothing dearer, more cherished, and delicate for a freedom-loving nation than statehood and freedom. This is especially so for a nation that has been struggling for survival for millennia and endured many hardships and assaults by almost all empires and occupation by these empires," Imedi TV showed Saakashvili as saying."In all instances, Georgia defeated its enemies because those empires went extinct. Their place is now in history books, whereas Georgia still exists. They knocked us down many times, but never so that we would be deprived of a desire and determination to stand up and fight. The Georgian nation still exists and it is unbreakable and indomitable, as it has been ever since it was born. The five-star Georgian flag is still flying. It is for this reason that this day is especially precious to us. I know few nations who have a similar experience of fighting for independence as we, the Georgian people have. Therefore, if any nation understands the price of freedom, it is the Georgian people. Georgians, I congratulate you on the Day of Georgia's independence. Our generation has a great

privilege. We live in a time when Georgia is independent. Today we celebrate our independence and congratulate each other without fearing repression from the conqueror," the president ! stated.He also hinted at the futility of the efforts of one section of the Georgian opposition, who have been calling for closer ties with the Russian leadership over the past months, saying that they will never succeed in forcing the Georgian people to give up its "national pride"."However, an empire still challenges our independence today. There are forces that are planning and sparing no effort to ensure that we are defeated in this great struggle for freedom. Their messengers have now appeared among us, urging us to give up the dream of independence. They tell us that obedience and lack of rights is the only way for us to survive and exist. According to their logic, the only answer that Georgia has is to be in sackcloth and ashes and give up its national pride. According to their logic and philosophy, if an enemy is strong, it is senseless to resist. However, the many centuries-old Georgian genes have a different philosophy," Saakashvili said. He added that his country has finally said no to the idea of "being ruled by an outside force"."So far, no generation has been able to secure ultimate and irreversible independence. The generations that live in our time have the honour to live in this special time, among those people, who are fighting for independence, and we have a chance to become the first in the history of our country who will break the ice and create guarantees for Georgia's ultimate independence," the president stressed."The struggle for the preservation of our independence today depends on how successful we are in building Georgia's statehood, how well we are able to carry out reforms, modernize our country, and continue our country's integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, how quickly we shape ourselves as a modern European nation. The struggle for the preservation of our independence today depends on how well we are able to preserve independence from corruption and clannishness, develop the economy, create new jobs for our people and gain a function of a new regional centre," Saakashvili said.Commenting on the opposition's negative attitude towards the conduct of the military parade, the president said: "The critics who are irritated by seeing Georgian soldiers on this parade here today, and who unfortunately hindered the conduct of a parade on Rustaveli [Avenue] last year, are saying that what is happening today is saber-rattling and a simple whim. Let everyone listen well to the sounds of the march of the Georgian Army and military hardware. These sounds are not saber-rattling, my friends. These are the sounds of the beating of the heart of the Georgian statehood. No matter how hard the enemy may try to stop this heartbeat, it will never again be able to do so and we should say this together," the president said in conclusion.Source: Imedi TV, Tbilisi, in Georgian 0725gmt 26 May 10

3. Iran, Georgia Agree on Lifting Visa Requirements TEHRAN (FNA)- Tehran and Tbilisi in a reciprocal move agreed on lifting visa requirements for the two countries' nationals to show friendship and solidarity between the two Asian states, a Georgian official said on Wednesday.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8903051413 "By lifting visa requirements, (the two countries') economic cooperation will further develop," Georgian Foreign Minister Nino Kalandadze said in a press conference in Tbilisi, describing the move as highly important.

Noting that Georgia seeks expansion of relations with the neighboring states, she also pointed out that the move to lift visa requirements for Iranian visitors will leave no effect on Tbilisi's ties with Washington.

Elsewhere, Kalandadze pointed to the upcoming visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Georgia in August, and said during the trip, the two sides will decide on a date for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to Tbilisi.

Iran and Georgia have expanded their ties and cooperation in economic, industrial and trade fields in recent years.

Iranian Sanir Company in cooperation with Georgia's GIG Company is due to build two hydroelectric power plants to produce electricity for the Central Asian country.

The project which costs €68mln will be financed by Iran's Bank Towse-e Saderat (Export Development Bank of Iran) and is considered as one of the biggest industrial contracts ever signed by Tehran and Tbilisi.

The Iranian and Georgian companies are expected to complete the project in nearly five years.

4. Georgia has no info on blast at Georgian-Turkish borderhttp://www.kyivpost.com/news/russia/detail/67677/ Today at 10:45 | Interfax-Ukraine Georgia's border guards have refused to confirm Turkish news reports claiming that a powerful explosion occurred at the border of the two countries on Tuesday evening.

No explosions were registered on Georgian territory yesterday, border guards told Interfax. According to Turkish media reports, the blast could have been triggered as a result of an airplane crash.

Turkey

1. Turkish president says status quo in Caucasus "must change"Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Astana, 25 May 2010: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Tuesday [25 May] that the status quo in the Caucasus must change."Current condition prevailing in the Caucasus is in no one's interest," Gul told reporters during his visit to Kazakhstan.Asked about his visit to Armenia in September 2008 which started a dialogue between Ankara and Yerevan and led to signing of two protocols to normalize relations between Ankara and Yerevan, Gul said, "my visit budged the status quo.""But it does not move easily. It has become gangrenous," Gul said.The protocols signed between Ankara and Yerevan in October 2009 aims to normalize relations and reopen their border which was closed in 1994 following the Armenian occupation of Karabakh region in Azerbaijan. However, accords must be ratified by parliaments of the two countries.Gul said the issue requires silent and determined work to reach a solution."If these issues cannot be solved within one or two years, it would take at least 10 years more [to reach a solution]. And it is in no one's interest," Gul said.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1549 gmt 25 May 10

2. Turkish PM Erdoğan arrives in Brazil

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-pm-erdogan-arrives-in-brazil-2010-05-26

Wednesday, May 26, 2010SAO PAOLO – Anatolia News AgencyTurkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Brazil on Wednesday for a formal visit on the first leg of his tour of Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

The visits will be the first of their kind at the level of prime minister. The aim of the visits is to deepen Turkey's developing cooperation opportunities with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Erdoğan is being accompanied by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Ciçek, State Ministers Zafer Çağlayan and Mehmet Aydın, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız and Culture & Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay as well as businessmen and journalists.

Erdoğan expects to attend the inauguration ceremony of Turkey's Consulate General in Sao Paulo, meet Turkish citizens living in the city, open a photograph exhibition titled "Gates of Paradise" and visit Embraer, the third biggest aircraft factory in the world.

Erdoğan was scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and exchange views on international and regional matters. The two countries are expected to sign several agreements during the prime minister's visit.

Erdoğan also hopes to attend the Turkey-Brazil Business Forum to meet and address businessmen. He is also scheduled to attend the third forum of the Alliance of Civilizations in Rio de Janeiro on May 28 and 29, where he will address the opening and attend a lunch to be hosted by the Brazilian President.

Premier Erdoğan will also meet Michel Elias Temer, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, and former inaugurate of Turkey's Consulate General in Sao Paulo. Erdoğan was also expected to visit the Brazilian oil company PetroBras, which carries out joint oil research studies with Turkey's TPAO in the Black Sea.

On May 31, Erdoğan will meet Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and sign agreements on air transportation and cooperation in customs agreements. Also, on June 1 Erdoğan expects to proceed to Chile and meet President Sebastian Pinera. The two leaders were expected to take up bilateral economic and commercial relations within the scope of a free trade agreement signed in July 2009. Erdogan will return to Turkey on June 2.

3. Turkish president addresses Kazakh parliamentarians Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Astana, 26 May 2010: Turkish President Abdullah Gul addressed Kazakh lawmakers on Wednesday [26 May].

Gul said that Eurasian geography, which also hosted Turkish world, was preserving its strategic importance today as it did in the past too.He added that the importance of Eurasia grew today thanks to its rich resources.Gul said that the location and power of Turkey and Kazakhstan were offering great cooperation opportunities in a region where world's biggest producers and markets took place.Gul noted that Turkey and Kazakhstan would undertake important responsibilities to develop a new transportation, communication and energy corridor which would contribute to economic improvement of regional countries, and bring Asia and Europe closer to each other.He said that when Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line - which would connect Far East with European markets in a fast and secure way - was completed, Turkey and Kazakhstan would have taken an important step to revive historical Silk Road.Noting that Kazakhstan supported Turkey's targets in energy transportation sector, Gul said that Kazakh oil reached world markets through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. He added that Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline would carry energy cooperation between Turkey and Kazakhstan into a new dimension.Gul said that the active stance of Kazakhstan in friends group of Alliance of Civilizations under UN roof was very important.Gul also said that Turkey extended full support to constructive efforts of Turkish Cypriots during Cyprus talks, and added that Turkey expected Kazakhstan to support rights of Turkish Cypriots who were an inseparable part of Turkish world.Gul added that Cyprus issue was a national cause for Turkey.Before addressing Kazakh Parliament, Gul held meetings with Kazakhstan's Senate Speaker Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev and Parliament Speaker Ural Muhamedjanov.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0746 gmt 26 May 10

4. Turkey's president attends Turkish Academy opening in Kazakhstan Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Astana, 25 May 2010: Turkish President Abdullah Gul attended opening of the Turkish Academy in Astana as part of his state visit to Kazakhstan.President Gul said at the opening ceremony, "the Turkish Academy was established to study common cultural values of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and to contribute to efforts to develop joint cultural policies among these countries.""I believe that the Turkish Academy will add a new momentum to cooperation among our countries. It will also carry out several works to reveal contributions by Turkish language and literature to universal civilization," he added.President Gul will attend inauguration of the Yunus Emre Culture Centre in Astana.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1441 gmt 25 May 10

5. Israel to stay out of Turkish UN meeting on Palestinian rights Excerpt from report in English by privately-owned Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post website on 26 May [Report by E.B. Solomon and Tova Lazaroff: "Israel To Avoid UN Meeting in Turkey on 'Inalienable' Rights of Palestinians"]To protest the "biased" nature of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinians, Israeli officials will not attend that organization's two-day international meeting on the peace process, which opens in Turkey on Wednesday. "We don't want to attend those meetings when they are based on an anti-Israeli narrative," Israel's deputy permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, told The Jerusalem Post.

The resolution that created the committee and its meetings failed to recognize a two-sided conflict, he said. "So from this perspective, Israeli government officials are not attending those meetings." Carmon said the practice was not unique; similar meetings are also avoided by Israeli officials. "It's a practice of Israel not to send Israeli government officials to those meetings, under the logic that those meetings are based upon one of so many anti-Israeli resolutions that are adopted with an automatic majority at the General Assembly," he said. "What is helpful is direct talk between us and our neighbours, between us and our partners to peace," he said, "This is not being done in politicized meetings of the Committee of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People."He took issue with the theme of the meeting, "Ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state." Carmon cited this as evidence to the unbalanced tone the conference was likely to project. "Until the UN General Assembly resolutions become balanced and recognize the fact that the conflict between us and the Palestinians, or the process between us and the Palestinians, is a two-sided process, you probably won't see Israeli government officials attending those politicized seminars and meetings," Carmon said.Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said the invitation to Israel to the conference had been half-hearted. Although Israel, along with the Palestinians, is at the centre of the event, Israel received the same generic invitation that was issued to all 192 UN member states "We are talking about peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. We are not just one invitee among others," Palmor said. When talking about an event of this kind, a carbon letter through the mail does not constitute a direct invitation, he said. [passage omitted]Source: The Jerusalem Post website, Jerusalem, in English 26 May 10

6. Turkish embassy denies Kyrgyz ex-leader in Turkey Text of report by privately-owned Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg website Bishkek, 26 May: Turkish first deputy ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Berk Ece has come out to protesters at the embassy and officially denied reports that [ousted Kyrgyz president] Kurmanbek Bakiyev was in Turkey."On behalf of all the Turkish people we express our sympathy to you. Yesterday, we learned from the Kyrgyz media that Kurmanbek Bakiyev had left Belarus for Turkey. I am officially announcing that he is not on the territory of our country, Berk Ece said. It is not clear why the Belarusian media circulated reports of this kind. We respect your peaceful protest".A member of the Meken Sheyitteri public association, Maral Bianki, pointed out that "if it emerges that Kurmanbek Bakiyev is in Turkey, but the authorities there are concealing it, we will seek to have diplomatic ties between out countries severed".The protesters also demanded that the Turkish embassy's spokesman give them a copy of the official answer that came from Ankara. In answer to this, Berk Ece said the following: "Yesterday, the Turkish embassy in Kyrgyzstan officially denied the reports in the media. This is our official answer."After the protest ended, relatives of those killed in the April events headed towards the parliament where the interim government was holding a session to find out about the progress with an operation to capture Kurmanbek Bakiyev, his family and entourage.Source: 24.kg website, Bishkek, in Russian 0526 gmt 26 May 10

7. Turkey, Kazakhstan set to jointly help Kyrgyzstan Text of report by privately-owned Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 26 May: The leaders of Turkey and Kazakhstan have agreed to take joint steps to help to restore Kyrgyzstan, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said.

"We have received with approval Kazakhstan's efforts, which it made as a country holding the OSCE presidency, in order to prevent further escalation of events in Kyrgyzstan that worried all of us," the Turkish president said while making a speech in front of Kazakh MPs in Astana today."I want to confirm again that we are ready to support all steps aimed at successfully ending transition period, which Kyrgyzstan is undergoing now, as well as ensuring democratic administration [in Kyrgyzstan] as soon as possible," Abdullah Gul said.Abdullah Gul believes that "helping the Kyrgyz people in overcoming this difficult process is the duty of brotherly peoples in the first place," the Turkish president said."With the Kazakh president, we decided to make joint efforts and jointly help the Kyrgyz people," the Turkish president said.Source: Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency, Almaty, in Russian 0504 gmt 26 May 10

8. Turkish miners stage one-hour strike to draw attention to recent mine blast Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Zonguldak, 26 May 2010: Miners quit working for one hour on Wednesday [26 May] in Karadon mine in the northern province of Zonguldak where 30 workers were killed in a collapse last week.The miners quit working to draw attention to the disaster in Zonguldak as well as the problems related to work conditions of miners and the situation of Turkish Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL) workers.The miners also extended support to the general protest organized by Turkish Confederation of Labour Unions (Turk-Is), Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK), Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (Kamu-Sen) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK).Turk-Is Director General Mustafa Kumlu said that mining was an indispensable sector, adding that it was the responsibility of employers to reduce the risk to minimum level.Meanwhile, DISK member workers also quit working for one hour in Istanbul.DISK Chairman Suleyman Celebi said that workers would not remain silent to injustice and bad work conditions, adding that they would struggle against insecure work conditions.Celebi added that only 5 per cent of workers in Turkey were union members.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0810 gmt 26 May 10

9. Turkish citizens to start using biometric passports 1 June 2010 Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Ankara, 26 May 2010: Turkish Security Directorate General will begin to give biometric passports, also known as e-passports, as of 1 June.Turkish citizens who are willing to get new biometric passports, prepared in international standards, started getting appointment from the Security Department on 23 May.To prevent any problems, new passports will be posted to citizens. Turkey's consulates will give passports to citizens living abroad.The regular passports will be red, diplomatic passports will be black and special passports will continue to be green in this new system.Around 5 million people actually have passports in Turkey, and almost 2.3 million Turkish passports are renewed or their terms are extended in Turkey and in Turkey's foreign representations every year.New passports will be valid only for the term written on it, and they will not be extended.The police departments will continue to extend terms of old passports till the end of this year, but will stop extending passports in 2011.

A biometric passport, also known as an e-passport or ePassport, is a combined paper and electronic passport that uses biometrics to authenticate the identity of travellers. It uses contactless smart card technology, including a microprocessor chip (computer chip) and antenna (for both power to the chip and communication) embedded in the front or back cover, or centre page, of the passport.The chip inside the passport contains information about the holder's face such as the distances between eyes, nose, mouth and ears. These details are taken from the passport photograph that you supply. They can then be used to identify the passport-holder. The chip also holds the information that is printed on the personal details page of your passports.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0811 gmt 26 May 10

10. President Barzani's Ankara visit in JuneWednesday, May 26th 2010 2:30 PM Ankara,  May 26 (AKnews) -  Kurdistan Region's President Massoud  Barzani has positively replied to an invitation by the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to Turkey, according to a source on Wednesday. http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/149324/

Barzani has sent the reply letter to Davutoglu via Kurdistan Region's Education Minister Safeen Dizayi,  according to a Turkish Foreign official who preferred anonymity, though the date of the visit has not been set but preparations for the visit has already started.

The visit may be in early June.

The Turkish  Foreign  Ministry  official also stated that Barzani  has requested to meet the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and  the Prime Minister RecepTayyip Erdogan as well,  voicing likelihood that the two Turkish leaders may meet Barzani.

The Kurdish President has been invited by Davutoglu under the title of  the Kurdish Regional Government's President, according to the source.

Barzani was invited to Turkey on April 28 in a letter delivered by the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Consultant Feridun Sinirlioglu.

dk/ry AKnews

11. Leaders of Islamic world coming for Turkish meetings19th International Congress of the Muslim Brotherhood Convention will be held in Istanbul with leaders of many communities around the world.

http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59073World Bulletin / News Desk

19th International Congress of the Muslim Brotherhood Convention will be held in Istanbul with leaders of many communities around the world.

The old and the new leaders of many organizations in the Islamic world will come together to discuss the world politics and situation in the Muslim world during the International Congress of the Muslim Brotherhood Convention, the Youth Forum and the Teachers' Congress.

Former Turkish PM Necmeddin Erbakan, Sudan's former President Zeheb, one of the major names of the resistance in Afghanistan Burhanuddin Rabbani, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Abdulhadi Awang, one of the leaders of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Ketatini, Jamaat-e-Islami's former president Ghazi Hussein Ahmed, Hamas's political leader Halid Mashal will participate in the conferences.

As a part of 40th anniversary of Milli Gorus (National Vision) movement, major international conferences, forums and meetings have been organized this year in Turkey to discuss the possibility of establishing a new world. The participants will also join the celebrations of the conquest of Istanbul.

Programs will be held between May 26 to June 2. Esam (Economic and Social Research Centre) is to organize 19th International Congress of the Muslim Brotherhood Convention, IYF (International Youth Forum) is to hold 5th International Muslim Youth Cultural Cooperation Meeting, OGDER (Conscious Teachers Association) is to organize 1th International Educators Meeting , and AGD (Anatolian Youth Association) will organize the celebrations for the 557th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul.

Programs will be held in Istanbul Kaya Ramada Hotel. The conquest celebration will be held at the Inonu Stadium in Istanbul's Besiktas.

12. PM receives Turkish finance minister  http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2089981&Language=en His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met on Wednesday with Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek on the occasion of his visit to the country.The meeting was attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Ahmad Rashed Al-Haroun.

13. Turkish premiers says trade volume with Latin American countries rising Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia on 26 May Ankara: Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey's trade volume with Latin American countries had been 1bn US dollars in the beginning of 2000s and it had reached 5.5bn dollars in the recent period.Erdogan held a press conference at Esenboga Airport in Ankara prior to his departure for Brazil, the first leg of his formal visits to Brazil, Argentina and Chile."We aim to increase trade volume with these countries to 10bn dollars as soon as possible. We are being accompanied by 150 Turkish businessmen and we will hold talks with Brazilian, Argentine and Chilean authorities," he said."During my visit to Brazil, five agreements will be signed. I hope that the visit would be the beginning of a new era towards a strategic partnership with Brazil," he said.State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, state ministers Zafer Caglayan and Mehmet Aydin, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay, and a number of businessmen are accompanying Erdogan during his tour of Latin America.

Erdogan will attend third forum of the Alliance of Civilizations that will take place in Rio de Janeiro on 28 and 29 May 2010.These visits will be the first of its kind in the prime ministerial level. The visits aim to deepen Turkey's developing cooperation opportunities with the countries in Latin America and the Caribbeans.Erdogan is scheduled to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and exchange views on international and regional matters. Two countries are expected to sign several agreements during the prime minister's visit.Premier Erdogan will meet Michel Elias Temer, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil, and formally inaugurate Turkey's Consulate General in Sao Paulo.Erdogan is also expected to meet Turkish citizens living in Brazil and visit Brazilian Oil Company PetroBras, which carries out joint oil research activities with Turkey's TPAO in the Black Sea.The Turkish prime minister will proceed to Rio de Janeiro on May 27 to attend Third Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations which will take place on May 28-29.Erdogan will address the opening of the forum and attend lunch which will be hosted by Brazilian President Silva.He will proceed from Brazil to Argentina where 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations will be celebrated.On May 31, Erdogan will meet Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and sign agreements on air transportation and cooperation in customs agreements.On June 1, Erdogan will proceed to Chile and meet President Sebastian Pinera.The two leaders are expected to take up bilateral economic and commercial relations within the scope of Free Trade Agreement signed in July 2009.Erdogan will return to Turkey on 2 June.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0609 gmt 26 May 10

14. Turkish foreign minister says no crisis with US Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Istanbul, 25 May 2010: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Tuesday [25 May] that last week's phone conversation between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Barack Obama was not tense.Davutoglu said that Obama did not give any messages to Erdogan that Turkey's stance regarding uranium swap with Iran harmed US efforts on the matter. He said the phone conversation was, on the contrary, a constructive chat.On 20 May, Obama spoke with Erdogan by phone to discuss Iran's nuclear programme. Some media reports claimed that it was a "tense conversation."A White House statement had said, "Obama acknowledged the efforts of Turkey and Brazil and noted that the United States and the international community await a formal and authoritative message from Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The President stressed the international community's continuing and fundamental concerns about Iran's overall nuclear programme as well as Iran's failure to live up to its international obligations.""I want to be clear and say this to national and international media.Attempts to create a crisis between Turkey and the United States will fail," Davutoglu told a press conference after the opening of a UN conference on Israeli-Palestinian peace."There is a diplomatic success achieved by Turkey and Brazil. This success is built on engagement policies followed by the US President. It has to be considered as a whole. If Mr Obama had not been involved in engagement policy with Iran, it would not be possible to carry out a proper diplomacy," he said.

"This is not a success achieved by only Turkey. We consider it an achievement of Mr Obama's engagement policy."Foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran and Brazil signed a deal on Monday where Iran committed to give the 1,200 kg of 3.5 per cent enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for 20 per cent enriched uranium it will receive from Western countries to be used as fuel in the nuclear research reactor in Tehran. Tehran will receive the enriched uranium from the Vienna Group, comprising of the US, France, Russia and International Atomic Energy Agency, in Turkey.Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1438 gmt 25 May 10

15. Four PKK militants killed in Turkey clashesHundreds of Turkish soldiers are participating in the operation against PKK militants in the region of eastern Turkey, making it one of the largest in recent months. http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59070At least four members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed on Wednesday in clashes with the Turkish military in the mountainous province of Tunceli, security sources said.

Hundreds of Turkish soldiers are participating in the operation against PKK militants in the region of eastern Turkey, making it one of the largest in recent months.

The operation comes less than a week after the Turkish bombing of some 50 PKK targets in northern Iraq, from where the militant group launches attacks inside Turkey.

Earlier this month five PKK militants and two Turkish soldiers were killed following a PKK attack on a military command post near the border with Iran and Iraq.

16. Turkish parliament speaker, South African deputy president meet, view ties Text of report in English by Turkish semi-official news agency Anatolia Ankara, 25 May 2010: Turkish Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin met with South Africa's Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe in Ankara on Tuesday [25 May].Motlanthe is currently paying a visit to Ankara. He was formally welcomed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and also delivered a speech at a conference in Ankara University.Sahin said that Turkey considered South Africa as a model for countries in African continent with its strong democracy as well as political and economic stability.Sahin appreciated the efforts of South Africa to protect peace and stability in its region and to solve problems in Africa.Expressing belief that Motlanthe's visit would further strengthen relations between Turkey and South Africa, Sahin said that South African Republic was the biggest trade partner of Turkey in Sub-Saharan Africa.Sahin said that trade volume with South Africa was 2.7bn US dollars in 2008.Meanwhile, Motlanthe said that Turkey and South Africa were two countries which were both a bridge between developing and developed countries.Motlanthe said that they appreciated and supported Turkey's efforts regarding Iran's uranium swap deal.Motlanthe also invited Sahin to World Cup which would be held in his country between 11 June and 11 July. Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1542 gmt 25 May 10

17. Turkish leader opens new embassy building in Kazakh capital Text of report by state-owned Kazakh news agency Kazinform Astana, 26 May: A complex of buildings of the Turkish embassy in Kazakhstan opened in the Tashenova Street in Astana today in the presence of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Kazakh State Secretary and Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev."Our embassy was in Almaty in the past. When the [Kazakh] government moved to Astana, I was foreign minister and tried to settle the issue of constructing the embassy's new building in Astana. And now, at last, we are opening a new complex of buildings of the new Turkish embassy in Kazakhstan," Abdullah Gul said at the ceremony to open the complex of buildings.He also said that the Kazakh capital was moved from the south to the centre of the country thanks to the far-sighted decision of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. In a short period of time, Astana turned into a capital city that matches Kazakhstan's prestige.Source: Kazinform, Astana, in Russian 0730 gmt 26 May 10

18. Ukraine and Turkey are to deepen interstate relations actively – Tigipkohttp://unian.net/eng/news/news-378586.html 26.05.2010 11:34]  Ukraine and Turkey are about to deepen interstate relations actively. According to the press service of Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Tigipko, he said this as a result of the negotiations with State Minister of Turkey Zafer Caglayan after the 7th session of Intergovernmental Ukrainian – Turkish commission on trade –economic cooperation. “Year 2010 will become token for deepening of the interstate relations between Ukraine and Turkey”, said S. Tigipko

19. Iran-Turkey ties would help global stability: Iranian officialhttp://www.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=1138681&idLanguage=3

Tehran, May 26, IRNA - Head of the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization Mehdi Mostafavi said Wednesday in Ankara that friendly Tehran-Ankara relations would help global stability.In a meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, he said Iran-Turkey all-out cooperation will positively influence regional and international developments.

Expansion of cultural and religious relations would help further boost all-out cooperation between the two neighboring states, he added.

For his part, the Turkish official referred to the growing trend of bilateral ties, saying Tehran and Ankara enjoy very amicable ties.

He added that expansion of relations between the two countries is to the benefit of the two nations.

Underlining the need for removing any probable obstacles in the way of further expansion of bilateral cooperation, he said Ankara is trying to make opportunities out of all threats.

Referring to Iran and Turkey as two influential countries, Arinc said the two sides should make greater efforts to establish regional and international peace and stability.

He called for further consultations between the two countries’ cultural and religious organizations.