Category: Ukraine

Seven Ukrainian sailors imprisoned in Turkey go on hunger strike

Seven Ukrainian sailors imprisoned in Turkey go on hunger strike

Yesterday at 10:31 | Interfax-Ukraine

Seven Ukrainian sailors from the Nemo, an Estonian cargo ship that has been under arrest in the Sea of Marmara (Turkey) for a year, are in a Turkish prison in the town of Derince and went on a hunger strike on Jan. 4.

Valeriy Babakov, a relative of the captain of the Nemo cargo ship, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, told an Interfax-Ukraine reporter that “the crewmembers of the Nemo cargo ship – seven Ukrainians – are asking for assistance from the state, because they are in a Turkish prison, and they went on a hunger strike from Jan. 4.”

He also noted that “the Estonian cargo ship Nemo, with seven Ukrainians on board, which was flying the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, has been in the Sea of Marmara (Turkey) for a year, because the ship was arrested by local authorities on Jan. 11, 2011 due to the debt of the ship’s bankrupt owner. The dry cargo ship was transferred to Swedbank Estonia due to the debtor’s loans, but the crew then refused to leave the Nemo without getting salaries.”

Babakov said that he was in constant phone and Skype contact with the captain of the cargo ship, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, and that he tried to attract the attention of the media to this problem, and “earlier, through a trade union of seafarers, the captain individually tried to solve the problem with the payment of salaries to the crew.”

Then, in August 2011, Ukraine learned through a number of Ukrainian media outlets that the sailors of the Nemo cargo ship needed assistance [a press conference was held on Skype with the ship’s captain], “however, attempts by the Ukrainian consulate to help the Ukrainian sailors return home failed.”

Babakov also told he was continuing to try to help his relative, Tymoshenko, and his crew, by sending an appeal to Director of the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Andriy Olefirov.

The appeal notes that “according to the captain, the ship ran out of fuel and food long ago. On Dec. 28, 2011, consuls, after repeated requests from the crew, still took the sailors from the ship and placed them in a Turkish police department, waiting for the permission to leave the country.”

“Despite the fact that permission from Ankara was received on Jan. 2, I understood from the words of the captain that the chief of the port, in which the ship is now located, prevents the Ukrainian crew from leaving home. The vice-consul cannot convince the port authorities (they are writing letters to the port to which no one responds). On Jan. 4, 2012, the crew (the guys lost 15-20 kg in weight over this year) went on a hunger strike,” Babakov said in the appeal.

Babakov asked the leadership of the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to provide assistance to the Ukrainian sailors.

He also said that the Ukrainian crewmembers of the cargo ship had finally lost hope to get their salaries, “because there was a long-awaited auction on the sale of the ship, at which the money was to be used to repay debts to creditors and salaries to the crew. However, nobody decided to buy the vessel.”

via Kyiv Post. Independence. Community. Trust – Ukraine – Seven Ukrainian sailors imprisoned in Turkey go on hunger strike.

January 6, 2012
Ukraine, Turkey sign agreement on visa-free regime

23-12-2011 15:09 Ukraine, Turkey sign agreement on visa-free regime

Ukraine and Turkey signed an agreement on the visa-free regime of citizens’ trips. The signature of the document took place in Ankara in the presence of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“The agreement should introduce a visa-free regime for entrance, leaving, transit and stay of citizens of one party on the territory of other party state, based on valid travel documents, pointed out in the addendum to the present agreement, under condition that the term of their continuous stay does not exceed 30 days since the entrance date. At the same time, total term of their stay on the territory of other party should not exceed 90 days over each period of 180 days,” the statement of the Presidential press service informs. Yanukovych and Erdogan also signed a Joint Statement by results of holding the first meeting of the high level Strategic Council between Ukraine and Turkey. The document proves the countries’ striving to build relations of strategic partnership. A special attention was paid to strengthening of such priority trends of cooperation as power engineering, transport and modernization of the infrastructure. In addition, agreements were signed between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the government of the Turkish Republic on air communication, on cooperation in the sphere of quarantine and plant protection, on cooperation in the sphere of fishery, economic and financial cooperation, as well as an Action Plan for development of bilateral relations between the countries for 2012-2013, as well as the Program of Cooperation in the sphere of culture for 2012-2014.

via Ukraine, Turkey sign agreement on visa-free regime / News / NRCU.

December 24, 2011
Turkey To Help Ukraine In Liberating Ukrainians Detained In Libya

Turkey will help Ukraine in liberating Ukrainian citizens detained in Libya, reads a statement made by the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Ahmet Davutoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, has announced this at a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Kostiantyn Hryschenko.

Davutoglu also remarks, Turkish diplomatic institutions in regions of Turkey’s established political-diplomatic influence will be consistently assisting the Ukrainian foreign-policy agency in defending Ukrainians’ legitimate interests.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, 22 Ukrainian citizens are still under arrest to the room in Tripoli, Libya.

The new Libyan authorities suspect them of collaboration with Muammar Gaddafi, former Libyan leader deposed in the 2011 civil war.

via Ukranian News – Turkey To Help Ukraine In Liberating Ukrainians Detained In Libya.

December 7, 2011
Turkey’s Defence Industry Eyes Africa

In аn effort to diversify defence exports аnd increase itѕ economic аnd political imprint іn sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey’s defence industry іs showing а growing interest іn countries like South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya аnd Cameroon.

Once largely dependent on imports оf defence equipment, Turkey hаs expanded itѕ defence exports to thе world — reaching approximately $900m іn 2010, and expected tо exceed $1 billion in 2011.

This new interest in the African market signals a change in Turkish perceptions towаrdѕ thе continent.

“Turkey uѕed tо view Africa аѕ a poor continent with a built-in tendency tо counter аny advancement with thе twісе the number of backward steps,” explains Sidar Global Advisors Managing-Director Cenk Sidar.

According to Lufti Varoglu, head оf thе International Co-operation Unit at the Undersecretariat fоr Defence Industries, the interest in sub-Saharan Africa bеcаme a state policy in 2008.

“There is а goal for all state institutions to havе ѕоmе links with thе countries of thаt region, principally wіth the stable ones,” Varoglu says, acknowledging thаt senior-level visits to thе region aim tо connect Turkish defence manufacturers with high-level contacts in African countries.

Among the major export items to thе continent аrе military electronics and armoured vehicles, areas іn which Turkey haѕ а competitive advantage.

“Turkey iѕ stіll a second-tier arms exporter of medium-tech products with aspirations to graduate tо the fіrѕt tier [high-tech] eventually,” explains Serhat Guvenc, associate professor of International Relations аt Kadir Has University.

By increasing exports аnd diversifying markets, Turkey’s defence industry will be ablе to fund new projects tо advance frоm medium to high-tech products.

“The Turkish defence industry haѕ bеen rapidly expanding — іtѕ success hаѕ bееn increasing in line with the sophistication of іts defence products,” ѕayѕ Sidar.

The new initiative iѕ fоllowѕ the Strategy Document оf thе Undersecretariat fоr Defence Industries, which calls for thе promotion аnd support оf defence and aeronautic products for export.

“In thе light of this strategy document, whiсh will accelerate relevant efforts, іt is natural that thе defence industry eyes thаt [African] market,” sаys Lieutenant General Sadi Erguvenc.

Two advantages thаt make thiѕ trade morе attractive, he adds, arе thаt the products correspond tо local needs, and sub-Saharan Africa hаѕ nо geopolitical restrictions for Turkey іn terms оf defence products’ sales.

Nevertheless, Erguvenc thinks thаt аlthоugh Turkey haѕ sоmе competitive advantages due to its product range, thе country’s effectiveness will bе overshadowed by other countries — such aѕ China, Ukraine and Belarus — thаt аlready dominate thе market.

However, аccordіng to Varoglu, thеre arе ѕomе manufacturing details unique to Turkish exports, ѕо “we саnnоt sаy thаt theѕе countries mеrelу compete wіth us, rаther we аre complementary fоr еаch other.”

Guvenc ѕауs exporting arms leads to a sort of path-dependency and iѕ conventionally believed to provide the supplier wіth political influence ovеr thе buyers. “So, it maу be ѕeen аѕ part аnd parcel of Turkey’s оverall efforts tо secure a role іn that part of thе world.”

But exporting defence products to а continent marred bу conflict аnd human rights violations аlѕо presents a potential risk. Experts emphasise the nееd tо create guidelines, transparency and moral standards іn thіs regard.

“Ironically, іf anything, іt iѕ thе seemingly perpetual military struggles іn thе continent thаt are attracting thе Turkish defence industry. As such, it is easy tо see а conflict оf humanitarian and economic interest,” ѕаyѕ Sidar.

via Turkey’s Defence Industry Eyes Africa | Southern Daily Press.

October 23, 2011
Turkey and Ukraine Lead the Most Visited Countries among Georgians

Written by Tako Khelaia

The FINANCIAL — 1,793,449 foreign guests visited Georgia during first 8 month of 2011, which is a 43% growth in accordance to last year’s index according to the Georgian National Tourism Agency (GNTA).

For the first 8 month of 2010, 1,258,488 foreigners visited Georgia which is 534,961 less in accordance to 2011. As GNTA notes, for the first 8 months of 2009, 942, 371 foreigners traveled to Georgia and the number of guests in 2009 was 35% less in accordance to the first 8 months of 2010.

The number of Georgian tourists visiting foreign countries has also increased by 4% this year. According to the index of the first 8 months of 2011, 1,415,385 Georgians visited foreign countries, while in 2010 only 1,356,599 did which were 58,786 less comparing to the first 8 months of 2011.

According to the GNTA, Turkey still tops the list of the most visited countries. A total of 28% of Georgian tourists visited Turkey during the first 8 months of 2011. Ukraine holds the second place of the most frequently visited countries. Overall 16% of Georgian tourists visited Ukraine , 15% Armenia, 9% Germany, 9% Azerbaijan, 4% USA, 4% United Kingdom,3% Italy, 2% Egypt, 2% Poland and the remaining 8% to other parts of the world.

Tbilisi has been the most popular tourism destination among foreign tourists. A total of 60% of the total visitors to Tbilisi during the first 8 months of 2011 were foreigners. Batumi was visited by 43% of tourists, Mtskheta by 8%, Kutaisi by 6%, Lagodekhi 5%, Kazbegi 4%, Gori 4%, Kobuleti 3%, Mestia/Ushguli, 2%, Davit Gareji, 2%, Vardzia 1%, Telavi 1%, Bakuriani 1%, Gudauri 1 % and the other 9% belongs to different other destinations in Georgia.

“For the purpose of leisure and recreation, 34% of foreigners visited Georgia during the first 8 months of 2011. For visiting friends and relatives, 26% of tourists visited our country and 20% of foreign guests were on their business and professional trips in Georgia during the first 8 months of 2011. 10% of foreign tourists visited our country for the purpose of transit, 3% due to education and training and 3% for employment,” the GNTA notes.

“2 % of foreign guests visited Georgia during the first 8 months of 2011 for the purpose of shopping, 2% for health and medical care, 0.2 % for religious reasons or pilgrimages and 0.1 % of foreigners were on diplomatic missions,” GNTA notes.

The majority of tourists are business travelers and transit travelers (31%) who stayed for one day in Georgia. According to the statistics 26% of tourists stayed for just 2-3 days, 12 % for 4-5 days, 8% for 6-7 days, 10% for 8-14 days, 4% for 15-20 days, 5% for 21-30 days and 4% for 31 or more days. The average number of nights spent in Georgia was 8, while for the purpose of leisure and recreation the average length of a visit to Georgia was 6 days. While visiting friends and relatives in Georgia, the average length of a visit was 11 days and for the purpose of business or professional duty the average length of a visit was 13 days.

According to the GNTA, 42% of tourists preferred to stay with their families, 38% used hotel accommodation, 9% guesthouses or cottages, 8% hired a flat, 5% stayed in transport facilities, 1% stayed in camping or trailer park and 0.3% were in Airport s or in railway stations. The average expenditure of one tourist during 8 days spent in Georgia was 1,470 GEL.

The number of domestic tourism for the first 8 month of 2011 has as well increased in Georgia and in accordance to the same period of last year the number has raised by 20%. For the first 8 months of 2011 the number of domestic tourists was 866,551, while in 2010 there were 721,382, which is 145,175 times less in accordance to this year’s index.

“The region of Adjara was visited by 1,006,319 tourists during the first 8 months of 2011, of which 655,419 were Georgians and 350,900 were foreign tourists. The number of tourists visiting Adjara has increased by about 36% this year. During the first 8 months of 2010, 741,475 tourists visited Adjara from which 498,393 were Georgians and 243,082 foreigners,” the GNTA notes.

“Among the purposes of domestic tourists for traveling within the territory of Georgia, visiting friends and relatives was the most prioritized. A total of 49% of domestic tourists visited their friends and relatives, 39% were visiting different parts of Georgia for leisure and recreation, 6% for business and professional purpose, 3% for Health and medical care, 2% for pilgrimage, 1% for employment, 1% for shopping and 0.3% for education or trainings,” GNTA officials note.

According to the GNTA the average length of domestic tourists’ visits to different parts of Georgia was 5 days. 23% of domestic tourists stayed for one day, 35% for 2-3 days, 10% for 4-5 days, 12% for 6-7 days, 12% for 8-14 days, 3% for 15-20 days, 3% for 21-30 days and 1% for 31 or more days. 75% of domestic tourists preferred to stay with their families, 5% stayed at guesthouses or cottages, 4% in hotels, 2% hired a flat, 1% stayed in different transport facilities, 1% went for camping or staying in trailers, 1% in monasteries, 0.4 % in hospitals and 12% didn’t spent the night at all.

“The most attractive tourism destination for Georgians was Tbilisi which was visited by 13% of tourists during the first 8 months of 2011. Batumi was visited by 8% of Georgian tourists, Kutaisi/Motsameta/Sataplia by 6%, Tskneti/Manglisi/Tsavkisi/Kodjori by 3% Mtskheta/Armazi/Akhatani/Saguramo by 3%, Kobuleti by 3%, Khashuri/Surami/Kvishkheti by 3% and Bakuriani by 2%,” the GNTA notes.

“Zugdidi was visited by 2% of Georgian tourists, Gori by 2%, Sighnaghi/Bodbe by 2%, Zestafoni by 2%, Telavi by 2%, Chiatura, Kaspi, Lagodekhi, Samtredia, Borjomi and Ozurgeti were also visited by 2% of Georgian tourists. The other destinations in Georgia were visited by 42 % of domestic tourists,” the GNTA notes.

The average expenditure of Georgian tourists in Georgia was on average 581 GEL during 5 days. The average expenditure of domestic tourists on residence for 5 days was 211 GEL, on food and drinks 117 GEL, on souvenirs and gifts 53 GEL, on transport 43 GEL, on train fares 26 GEL, on transport 46 GEL and on other important goods and products 85 GEL.

October 4, 2011
Ukraine wants to strengthen strategic partnership with Turkey

KYIV, June 20 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has congratulated Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his Justice and Development Party’s victory in the elections to the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

“This success is a sign of the support by the Turkish people of the efforts that your political party and you personally are taking to develop a democratic Turkish state and ensure the interests of the Turkish people,” Yanukovych said in a letter of congratulations posted on his official website.

The president noted that Ukraine wanted to strengthen friendly relations with Turkey and deepen their strategic partnership, which was launched during the Turkish prime minister’s recent visit to Kyiv.

“I am confident that the first meeting of the strategic high-level council between Ukraine and Turkey, which is scheduled for this year, will give a new impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation and contribute to enhancing the level of security and stability in the Black Sea region,” Yanukovych said.

via BSANNA News – BSANNA NEWS.

June 21, 2011