World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (February 22, 2012)

The Washington Post reported that a recent installment of the popular Israeli satirical television show “A Wonderful Country” captured the public mood here regarding a possible strike on Iran and its consequences: a mix of resignation and gallows humor. In one scene, a house-hunting couple is shown a Tel Aviv apartment facing a drab housing project as a real estate agent proclaims that the place will have a view of the sea. “In June, that whole row of buildings won’t be here anymore,” she cheerfully informs the prospective buyers, gazing out a window. “Are they making a park here?” asks the woman viewing the apartment with her husband. “No,” chirps the agent, “there’s the business with Iran this summer.” As if noting a change of seasons, many Israelis are talking about a possible war come summer, or later this year, with an air of inevitability born of years of festering conflict that has periodically flared up into full-blown hostilities. The prospect of devastating counter-strikes and possible mass casualties seems to be taken in stride, seen as a lesser evil than facing a nuclear-armed Iran.

The Los Angeles Times published the article headlined “Red Cross seeks daily 'humanitarian pause' in Syria fighting.” It says that Opposition activists reported scores of people killed Tuesday across Syria, including many in a new round of government shelling of the besieged city of Homs, as the International Committee of the Red Cross called for a "humanitarian pause" in order to aid Syria's expanding ranks of victims. Amid fear that Syria could be headed toward civil war, the Red Cross proposed that both sides in the conflict respect daily two-hour cease-fires to allow time to deliver aid and evacuate the wounded and the sick. "The current situation requires an immediate decision to implement a humanitarian pause in the fighting," Jakob Kellenberger, president of the Red Cross, said in a statement. "In Homs and in other affected areas, entire families have been stuck for days in their homes, unable to step outside to get bread, other food or water, or to obtain medical care." Whether the Red Cross proposal had any chance of being enacted in Syria remained a question mark. Violence has broken out across the country, both in cities and in isolated towns and villages where access is limited. Guerrilla groups fighting the government have no central leadership.

“Chinese VP’s visit boosts Turkey ties” is an article published by the Turkish information agency Hurriyet. It says Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, the frontrunner to become China’s next leader, has begun a visit to Turkey that aims to strengthen bilateral ties in the economic, political and security realms. “Turkey and China have been playing an important role in international and regional affairs in recent years,” Xi said, recalling that the two countries had agreed on strategic cooperation in 2010. “I believe that Xi’s visit will bring a special meaning to relations,” Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çicek said during his meeting with the vice president. Çiçek hinted at disagreements between Ankara and Beijing – an apparent reference to the situation of China’s Uighur community – but added that bilateral cooperation should not be affected by any problems. “Undoubtedly, there are issues the two countries are sensitive about. But we, as Turkey, are taking up those issues delicately, in a spirit of cooperation and within a framework that would not harm our relations,” he said.

The same agency reported that a club of the world’s top 20 economies have shifted their attention to political issues despite the ongoing global crisis amid an unprecedented rise in diplomatic and regional tensions and major divisions at the U.N. Security Council. Meeting at Los Cabos, Mexico, foreign ministers of the Group of 20 discussed the Syrian government’s ongoing crackdown on the opposition and fears of civil war, plus the rising tension regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu represented Turkey at the informal meeting, engaging in active diplomacy on Syria and Iran with his counterparts.