World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (May 12, 2011)

The Washington Post reported that international sanctions are hindering Iran’s capacity to purchase supplies and equipment to develop nuclear and ballistic missile technology, but Tehran continues to actively seek ways to overcome the measures. The report, which was conducted by an eight-member panel of experts and has been delivered to the U.N. Security Council, is the most comprehensive assessment yet of international efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic. Its findings paint a mixed picture of the sanctions’ impact. The Iranian government is subject to a wide range of U.S., U.N. and European sanctions designed to compel Tehran to halt its enrichment of uranium and other nuclear activities, and to freeze its development of ballistic missiles.

The New York Times reported that the trial of three Americans charged with espionage and illegal entry in Iran after their arrest almost two years ago near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan failed to resume in Tehran on Wednesday, and their Iranian lawyer said he had formally protested the delay. The case has added to the tensions between Iran and the United States relating to many issues but focusing on Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. Western countries say it aims to create weapons, but Tehran says it is intended to help generate civilian electric power.

The Turkish information agency Hurrieyt published the article “Georgia-Russia row blocks Council of Europe declaration.” It says that a diplomatic spat between Russia and Georgia over their conflict in 2008 left Council of Europe ministers meeting in Istanbul unable to release a joint declaration Wednesday on the results of the talks. Turkey, the outgoing chair of the ministers’ committee, and its successor, Ukraine, worked to find a way around the crisis by issuing the draft declaration, which does not mention the disputed matter, Wednesday as a presidential statement. Neither Georgia nor Russia signed this statement.

Other article on Georgia published by Hurriyet is “US 'seizing our freedom,' says Georgia's opposition.” An opposition party in Georgia has blasted the United States for propping up Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili’s regime, reiterating its call for a protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi on Friday. “We believe that Russia has seized our territories, but by this support [to Saakashvili], the U.S. administration is seizing our freedom, our sovereign right of free choice in our internal political affairs,” Erosi Kitsmarishvili, one of the founders of the opposition Georgian Party was quoted as saying by online news outlet Civil Georgia on Wednesday.

“Iran urges more aid for Afghan refugees” is an article published by Press TV. BAFIA Director General Mohammad Tahavori said at a press conference on Wednesday that the current donations by international bodies to Afghan refugees did not meet their needs. He said that a portion of international donations needed to be handed out directly to Afghan refugees who have returned to their country so that they can take the initiative to build a special settlement in their country. He pointed out that the Afghan government could only provide basic services for building such a settlement. Tahavori went on to say that nearly three million Afghans were living in Iran legally or illegally, adding that the Islamic Republic has been hosting Afghan refugees over the past thirty years generously.