World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (December 9, 2010)

The New York Times published an article "Iran Security Officials Arrest Four at Newspaper". It says that security officials have raided one of Iran's few remaining independent newspapers, arresting three journalists and a managing director. The arrests, made Tuesday, coincided with the publication of a special supplement by the newspaper, Shargh, that paid homage to Student Day, the annual commemoration of the deaths of student protesters in 1953. Iran's official news outlets on Wednesday reported the arrest of four members of Shargh but made no connection between the arrests and the Student Day supplement.

The information agency Press-TV reports on Iranian proposal of joint global management. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has proposed to the third Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) the establishment of a center for joint global management. The Iranian minister pointed out democracy cannot be established where "extra-regional and international powers meddle in the internal affairs of developing countries," particularly in the Middle East. He warned against the adverse consequences of "aggression, occupation and hegemonic policies" on the political development at both national and regional levels.

The other article published by Press-TV touches on the recent Iran's nuclear program negotiations. A senior Iranian lawmaker has reiterated that Tehran will not discuss its "inalienable" nuclear rights with the P5+1 in the next round of talks in Turkey. He said that, under the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), Iran was entitled to use peaceful nuclear technology, adding that those countries that seek to impede Iran's access to such technology, in fact, violate the Article VI of the treaty. The Article VI of the NPT states that nothing in the treaty should be interpreted as affecting the "inalienable rights" of all the parties to the treaty "to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."

Turkish information agency Hurriyet develops the theme of tense relations between Turkey and Israel. The article "Israel offers compensation deal to mend ties with Turkey" states that Israel has proposed to express "regret" and pay compensation for the deaths of nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship if Turkey assures Tel Aviv that the Israeli navy will not be held legally liable. The Israeli draft fell short of Ankara's expectations that Tel Aviv formally apologize. Delegates from both countries met in Geneva over the weekend to discuss repairing their strained ties.

Hurriyet published an article "Dutch government reassures Turks of Muslims' rights." It says that Turkish Muslims in the Netherlands will continue to freely practice their religion, the Dutch government has assured Turkey, adding that controversial politician Geert Wilders' understanding of Islam was not shared by the country's governing coalition.