Category: Regions

Istanbul process’ countries ready to help Afghanistan

Kazakhstan, Astana, 26 April / Trend, D. Mukhtarov /

The 3rd Ministerial Conference of the ‘Istanbul Process held in Almaty on Friday ended with a declaration in which the parties confirmed their willingness to give full support to Afghanistan in order to involve it in the economic and political life of the region, the Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported.

“The participants of the Conference noted the importance of these measures in the context of the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Forces from Afghanistan. Specific action plans on six confidence measures packages of Istanbul Process were approved,” the report says.

The forum was attended by more than 50 delegations, headed by the foreign ministers of participating countries, supporting countries and heads of international organizations. The parties fully supported plans for regional cooperation in Afghanistan, confirmed their willingness to purposefully expand and deepen regional cooperation based on the principles of friendship, respect and mutual benefit.

Several associated events in the context of regional cooperation in Afghanistan took place within the scope of the conference: A Presentation of the Capacities of Almaty as a Regional Hub of Multilateral Diplomacy Held by the Akim of the City Ahmetzhan Yesimov; a workshop of experts of the involved authorities of the participants of the Istanbul process with the presentation of capabilities of Kazakhstan as a transit corridor; an exhibition of goods and products of Kazakhstan for export to Afghanistan.

According to the Declaration adopted on the results of the forum, the next Conference of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Istanbul Process on Afghanistan is scheduled to be held in the People’s Republic of China in 2014.

April 27, 2013
Kazakh President discusses bilateral cooperation with Istanbul Process Conference participants

Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 26 / Trend E. Kosolapova/

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed bilateral cooperation issues with the participants of the Ministerial Conference of Istanbul Process on Afghanistan held in Almaty on Friday, the Press Service of the President of Kazakhstan reported.

In particular, Nazarbayev met with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and discussed the key aspects of enhancing and deepening the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the Unite States.

“The parties paid attention to the prospects of economic and investment cooperation between the two countries,” the Press Service reported.

Kazakh President also held a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

“During the negotiations the parties touched on the main spheres of the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Turkey and noted the role of Turkey as one of the most important economic partners of Kazakhstan,” the report says.

Moreover, Nazarbayev and Davutoglu discussed topical issues of the international agenda.

During the conference Nursultan Nazarbayev also met with the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Zalmai Rassoul. The parties discussed the role of Istanbul Process in the sustainable economic development of Afghanistan and the key spheres of Kazakhstan’s participation in the socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan. Kazakhstan attaches great importance to the cooperation with Afghanistan in bilateral and multilateral formats, Kazakh President said.

Moreover, Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid. The parties exchanged views on topical issues of the international agenda, discussed the bilateral cooperation. Kazakhstan is interested in enhancing cooperation with India in various areas, including investments and innovations, as well as oil and gas industry.

April 27, 2013
Armenians stage angry protest against Turkey in Beirut

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, LEBANON, PROTEST, TURKEY

Armenians marched from Bourj Hammoud to downtown Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square on Wednesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the genocide of their kin by Ottoman Turks during World War I.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World War I as theOttoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by several other countries.

Turkey argues 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.

Over 20 countries have so far recognized the massacres as genocide.

The protesters held a rally at the square with speeches made by the leaders of several Armenian parties.

The families of nine Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria joined them over what they said was a common cause.

The relatives of the nine men have been holding daily sit-ins near the Turkish Airlines offices not far from Martyrs’ Square and have called for boycotting Turkish products.

They blame the Turkish government for the failure to release the pilgrims who are held hostage by Syrian rebels near the Turkish border in Aleppo district since May 2012.

Ankara is a staunch supporter of the rebel Free Syrian Army that is fighting regime troops.

On the 98th anniversary of the genocide, Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia Aram I slammed Turkey for turning churches into mosques.

“How could Turkey which considers itself a pioneer in coexistence deny the genocide and transform churches into mosques?” he wondered in a statement.

Turkey should give compensations to the Armenian people and restore its rights, he said.

Naharnet

April 26, 2013
Hilton London Metropole Unveils $9.1M Lobby Transformation

Hilton London Metropole has announced that it is undergoing a major $9.1 million lobby transformation, a move expected to revolutionize the arrival experience in one of the biggest conference and events hotels in Europe. The hotel will be the first UK property to incorporate the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand’s new lobby design narrative, which provides what was described as “smartly designed and functionally relevant lobby spaces, for guests and locals to work, socialize and enjoy”.

According to Luxury Travel Advisort the two phase refurbishment, designed by Aukett Fitzroy Robinson, reflects the Hilton commitment to creating engaging spaces. The completed first phase sees a new lobby bar – EDG Bar & Lounge – and Whisky Lounge, while the installation of double-height glass entrances will mark the overall completion of the project in August 2013.

Phase one was already completed.

Ten British custom-made vanilla leather and fabric suspended lights form a focal point over the new double-height EDG Bar & Lounge, while muted grey fabrics, with splashes of yellow, adorning the venue. A feature wall behind the 20-foot long bar also forms a central part of the lobby bar and lounge design as fusions of color in night and day lighting effects are projected through cut-out sections in the wall sculpture. Free Wi-Fi and power sockets are available for guests.

The 22-cover Whisky Lounge encompasses black and mauve-grey furnishings, with hints of dark cyan and teal. The Whisky Lounge exhibits feature lighting in the form of suspended whisky decanters, while whisky display cabinets frame and showcase a collection of whiskies from around the world.

April 26, 2013
Davutoglu: Turkey will not discuss future of Syria with Israel

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey categorically denies discussing the future of Syria with Israel, dismissing suggestions that the recent Israeli apology was linked to developments in war-torn Syria Today`s Zaman reported.

“This will be Turkey’s stance both today and tomorrow. Turkey will never discuss Syria’s future with Israel,” said Davutoglu during a televised interview on Thursday, adding that this was the case for all of Turkey’s neighbors.

Noting that Turkey refuses to be part of regional policies determined by Israel, such as the ones in 1990s, Davutoglu said that the days when Turkey was not included in regional peace processes were now over.

The Turkish foreign minister said Turkey was now the main actor in the Middle East putting forward regional solutions and policies. “From today onwards, Turkey will not bother about losing this country or that country,” he said while noting, in an apparent message to the Israel administration, that if there are countries who believe it advantageous to repair relations with Turkey due to the Syrian crisis, it was their concern.

In late March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered an apology to Turkey for a 2010 raid on the Mavi Marmara aid flotilla that resulted in the deaths of eight Turks and a Turkish American. Shortly after the apology, Netanyahu made it clear that a failed Syrian state with chemical weapons at large was the main motive behind the apology.

Davutoglu stated that the Israeli apology was the product of three-year discussions between Israeli officials who chose to offer an apology when they understood that it was not in their best interests to continue the rift.

Rift between families of Mavi Marmara victims and government untrue

Touching on the Mavi Marmara attack, Davutoglu said the passengers of the flotilla only aimed to take humanitarian aid to Gaza and were not perusing any personal interest, but did it for the honor of humanity. The Turkish foreign minister also said that, except for some groups, many people across the world regarded the Mavi Marmara volunteers as people who risked their lives for the honor of humanity.

Following the Israeli apology, the families of the nine victims have insisted that the blockade on the Gaza Strip be lifted, underlining that without the ending of the blockade and embargo, Israel’s apology and compensation for the victim’s families and those injured would have no meaning. The families also said that they have no intention of retracting their lawsuits.

In relation to suggestions that the government tried to prevent families from obtaining compensation, Davutoglu said those claims were not true. He added that they will continue to talk to families about the process and fight for their rights.

No need for a mediator in talks with Iraqi government

Davutoglu also said that Turkey did not need a mediator to have talks with the Iraqi government, apparently referring to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent visits to Iraq and Turkey. Relations with Iraq have been strained as the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has criticized Turkey for interfering in Iraqi affairs. Maliki is particularly concerned over Turkey developing ties with the Iraqi Kurds in the north of the country. During his visit to Baghdad on March 24, Kerry also spoke to Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani on the phone, telling him to abandon unilateral actions that do not receive the blessing of Baghdad, particularly with regard to an oil pipeline deal with Turkey.

Days later, Maliki softened his rhetoric, saying that he would welcome rapprochement with Turkey.

Davutoglu said Turkey never cut off its ties with Iraq but warned that the Iraqi premier should be careful about his comments regarding Turkey.

Touching on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s scheduled visit to Palestine in late May, the Turkish foreign minister said this date was chosen with the hope that the rival political groups of Palestine, Hamas and Fatah, may have reached a reconciliation by then.

Davutoglu added that the important thing in the Palestine-Israel conflict is to solve the problem, not the issue of who is going to mediate between the groups.

April 26, 2013
Overcoming Conflict: How The Battle Of Gallipoli Sparked A New Friendship

Overcoming Conflict:
How The Battle Of Gallipoli Sparked A New Friendship

The following op-ed by Sevin Elekdag, TCA Research Fellow and Onur Isci, Lecturer at the Department of History at Georgetown University was published in the Eurasia Review on April 25.Every year on April 25, Turks join with Australian and New Zealand friends to commemorate ANZAC Day. On this day 98 years ago, with the Allies at their side, the newly formed Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACS) landed on the Gallipoli peninsula to invade the Ottoman Empire’s capitol, modern-day Istanbul, and take control of a precious WWI supply route to Russia. As support for the war waned, the British came to Australia with a propaganda machine aimed at encouraging young Australian men to sign-up to fight in this war on a foreign land half a world away. Over the next nine months, the Turks fought a bloody battle against the ANZACs, and while the Ottoman army ultimately prevailed, both sides suffered great hardships and heavy casualties.

For the ANZACS, this little known WWI event is recognized as their first ever major offensive and has become a defining moment in shaping the national identities of the Australian and New Zealand people. For Turks, it gave inspiration and a leader (Mustafa Kemal) to the Turkish National Resistance Movement that eventually freed Anatolia from foreign invaders.

In 1934, when memories of the battle were still fresh, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, commander at Gallipoli and founder of modern Turkey, stated:

“Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side now here in this country of ours…you, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.”

These words mark the beginning of years of cultural exchange and efforts to establish official diplomatic relations between these nations. At the time, it may have seemed impossible to bridge the obvious differences in how the event was, and is, perceived in each country. But with perseverance, what ultimately emerged from the wreckage was a new friendship between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. Out of respect and understanding, these nations now come together to reflect on the tragic realities of war.

So it is that Gallipoli has become a national symbol of reconciliation. How inspiring to see Turks, Australians and New Zealanders set aside animosity and empathize with the experiences and suffering of the other. Coming together over this shared experience has allowed nations once at war to build friendship and solidarity from its ashes.

Following last year’s anniversary, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Australian counterpart, Julia Gillard, met in Ankara, Turkey to plan a special remembrance of the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign. The two leaders announced that 2015 would be proclaimed the Year of Turkey in Australia and the Year of Australia in Turkey.

Every day, news from the Middle East is dire. As governments change and conflicts rage on, one worries about the next generation of leaders for Palestine, Syria, Israel, Iraq and Afghanistan. Are they being given examples showing that after the hostilities, there is the possibility for finding common ground? That dialogue and reconciliation are important steps towards a more prosperous and stable future for their children, and every generation thereafter? Is history passed down in a way that considers the perspectives of other cultures?

As war and threats of conflict swirl across the continents, it is never too soon to use the lessons of Gallipoli to teach our children not just to honor bravery and sacrifice, but also to recognize that it takes equal measures of great strength and empathy to set aside the tragedies of war.

April 25, 2013