World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (November 16, 2011)

The Washington Post published the article headlined “Ahmadinejad goes on the offensive against clerical opponents.” It says that for months, Iran’s clerical establishment and Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders have been trying to curb the powers of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In recent weeks, the president has fought back, using combative speeches and threats to reveal his opponents’ corruption in order to hold on to his job. The tactics appear to be working, according to parliament members and analysts. Once thought to be a political has-been, Ahmadinejad has defied expectations, and opponents say they do not believe he will step aside early or quietly serve out a term that ends in 2013. Instead, they say, he seems determined to try to exert power well beyond that point, by placing close associates in key positions. He has already begun aggressively mobilizing political forces across the country and is preparing for key parliamentary elections scheduled for March 2.

“Contain and Constrain Iran” is an article published by The New York Times. It says that the leaders of the Islamic Republic — but emphatically not the Iranian people — are the West’s enemy, and Iran seeks nuclear weapons capability. But the country is hesitant and divided; and it does not want war. Khamenei is aging; how he would be replaced is unclear. Another presidential election in a couple of years will again reveal the Islamic Republic’s paralyzing contradictions. These circumstances give the United States and Israel room for effective action, so long as they resist a rash military strike. The aim should be to increase Iran’s internal divisions, not unite it in furious resolve. What is needed is a contain-and-constrain policy. Contain Iran through beefed-up Israeli and Gulf defenses, a process underway. Constrain it to circle in its current nuclear ambiguity through covert undermining.

The Turkish information agency Hurriyet Daily News reported that a group of Chinese academics has awarded its version of the Nobel Peace Prize to Vladimir Putin, an organizer said Tuesday, pointing to the Russian Prime Minister as "outstanding in keeping world peace." Putin beat other candidates such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Yuan Longping, a Chinese agricultural scientist, to nab this year's "Confucius Peace Prize", Qiao Damo, one of the organisers, told AFP. The prize emerged last year, when it was suddenly announced by the group two days before jailed dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel to Beijing's anger, sparking speculation it was set up with the government's guidance.

The same information agency published the article subtitled “Turkey may share water with Cyprus.” It says that Turkey is ready to share water with all of Cyprus in the event of a solution to the island’s division, Turkey’s deputy prime minister said yesterday. A link providing Turkish water to Turkish Cyprus will be ready by 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay said, adding that that water would suffice the entire island. “We are ready to share the water with the entire island if a settlement is found in ongoing Cyprus negotiations,” Atalay said in Nicosia, where he went to attend the ceremonies marking the 28th anniversary of Turkish Cyprus’ foundation.