World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (March 30, 2011)

The world famous economist, author of three books on the economy and a lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States Daron Acemoğlu, a Turkish citizen of Armenian descent was offered the post of Turkey’s permanent representative at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, or OECD, in Paris, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Tuesday. No other Turkish-Armenian has held such a high diplomatic post in the past. Davutoğlu also said that Daron Acemoğlu said he felt honored and that it would be an honorable mission for him as a citizen of the Republic of Turkey and as an academic, but due to his ongoing academic studies he said he would respond positively to this offer in the coming years, Hurriyett reports.

The Hurriyet article “Fix Cyprus, join us in EU, says Bakoyannis” deals with the opinion of Dora Bakoyannis, the former Greek foreign minister and current leader of the Democratic Alliance Party on a scope of questions, including the EU membership for Turkey, Cyprus, gender and freedom of press. She believes Greece is Turkey’s most honest European partner when it comes to the country’s European Union accession. She strongly disagrees with Germany and France’s opposition to Turkey’s EU bid.  Dora Bakoyannis also said that “If Turkey solves the problem of Cyprus and completes the reform process, then it has the capacity to be a member of the EU.” She also touched on the latest arrests of journalists in Turkey, saying a free press was a guarantee of a well-functioning democracy and adding that achieving it would constitute a milestone on Turkey’s path to Europe. The politician has also mentioned that Turkish women, although very active in everyday life, needed to be more active in politics, saying that  “Women all around the world are not [just decoration], they bring another [aspect to] politics, which is needed if you want to be successful.”

Press TV reports that Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has expressed Tehran's determination to promote relations with neighboring countries, particularly the Muslim states, and the European Union. In another interview, Iran's Foreign Minister has welcomed remarks by his Egyptian counterpart Nabil al-Arabia on promoting Tehran-Cairo ties.

 Reuters has announced several important meetings to be conducted by the leaders of the region on March 30. It has been mentioned that in Ankara, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan meets Patriarch of Syrian Orthodox church Ignatius Zakka Iwas, in London Erdogan attends Libya conference in London,joining Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Finnish President continues state visit to Turkey with trip to the southeastern city of Sanliurfa.