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US President Barack Obama's administration insists that Congressshould provide exemptions for sanctions against Iran for companiesbased in 'cooperating countries', The Washington Times reports, notingthat this may concern Chinese and Russian interests.The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Actin a House-Senate conference committee and is due to be on Obama'sdesk by Memorial Day.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu declared that Turkey remainsthe guarantor of Nakhichevan within the norms of international law andthat Turkey has obligations, TRT reports.After meeting the Speaker of the Supreme Majlis of the AutonomousRepublic of Nakhichevan, Vasif Talibov, the Turkish Foreign Ministeranswered journalists’ questions. Davutoglu said that the Kars peaceagreement remains in power unequivocably. He added that Turkishairlines will carry out flights from Istanbul to Nakhichevan.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met his Georgiancounterpart Grigol Vashadze in Turkey, TRT reports.Davutoglu hailed the "brotherly" relations between the two countriesand said he believes that a strong Georgia can contribute to thestability of the Caucasus.Vashadze later met with President Abdullah Gul and Premier RecepTayyip Erdogan.
Anti-US demonstrations have taken place in Iran in front of the Swissembassy, which represents US interests in Iran, RIA Novosti reports,citing the Iranian information agency Fars.At the start of April, US President Barack Obama declared that Iranand North Korea will be excluded from new US obligations on thelimited use of US nuclear arms for breaching non-proliferationagreements. Iran understood the declaration as a nuclear threat andsent an official complaint to the UN.
At a meeting in Sochi on Tuesday on the infrastructural development ofthe Russian-Kazakh border, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putinissued governmental orders within the integration process of theCustoms Union and the special-purpose "State Border" program, RIANovosti reports.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Kanat Sudabayev had telephone conversationswith the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, ElmarMammadyarov and Edward Nalbandian, respectively, a VK correspondentreports, citing the Kazakh press-service.The chairman said in his discussions he was interested in the effortsand participation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in thesettlement of relations.The sides exchanged opinions about preparations for an informal OSCECouncil of Foreign Ministers in Alma-Ata on 16-17 July and the 2010
Germany continues to urge Armenia and Turkey to ratify bilateralprotocols on rapprochement, German Ambassador in Armenia Hans-JohanSmidt said, News Armenia reports.Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on 22 April suspending the ratification process of the protocols."Reconciliation and mutual understanding are the key to establishingfriendly relations between neighbours," the ambassador said in astatement, adding that Germany would assist the process.
Russia and Norway urge Iran to restore the trust of the internationalcommunity and respect UN decisions, a joint declaration after RussianPresident Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Norway says, ITAR-TASS reports.The two countries call on Iran work with IAEA to prove without doubtthat its nuclear program is peaceful.The sides also support the independence, sovereignty and territorialunity of Iran, as well the right of Iranians to determine theirnational policies.
The Eurasian idea of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev became the main subject of discussion today at a meeting of Majilis Parliament Chairman Ural Muhamedjanov and the president of the international social fund “Dialogue Eurasia”, Salikh Akchay, the VK correspondent in Kazakhstan reports. It is the Year of rapprochement of cultures and broadening of dialogue between civilizations. The sides noted Kazakhstan's experience and that the integration initiatives of its leader have been recognized by the UN and the international community.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has met with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Demetris Droutsas, TRT reports.At a joint press-conference it was emphasized that Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Athens on the 14th and 15th of May. Davutoglu will meet Droutsas in Tallinn, where he will participate in a summit of NATO's foreign ministers.
Iran started mass exercises of its armed forces in the Persian Gulf region yesterday. Manoeuvers began despite numerous sanctions against Tehran proposed by US authorities, Georgia Online reports. The training will last three days. It will include marine, air and ground subdivisions. The objective is security in the Persian Gulf region.
Turkmenistan and Iran share common ground in regional and international policy, which contributes to consolidation of joint efforts on global disarmament, Trend reports, citing the Turkmenistan government's press-service. Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed this view at his last meeting in Kabmin to the Turkmenistan delegation participating in the international conference in Tehran on disarmament issues.
Russian diplomats are considering Baku’s proposal to add Turkey to the OSCE Minsk Group on a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. They are also considering Iran’s request to be a mediator in a Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, declared the official spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Andrey Nesterenko, Rosbalt reports.
The USA is not surprised at Armenia’s decision to halt ratification of the protocols normalizing relations with Turkey, said US State spokeman Philip Crowley at a press-briefing .He noted that they approve of Sargsyan’s decision to continue working for peace, stability and reconcilitation, Trend reports. According to Crowley, there were intensive meetings in Washington held by the USA with Armenian and Turkish spokesmen.
Ankara was cold toward Armenia halting the ratification of protocolsand normalization of bilateral relations, TRT reports.Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan urgently contacted ForeignMinister Ahmet Davutoglu before Armenia declared it would halt theratification.The Turkish side will confirm its commitment to Armenian-Turkishprotocols Erdogan said later.The Turkish premier declared that regardless of Armenia's decision,Turkey is devoted to the Armenian-Turkish protocols.
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has halted the ratification process of Armenian-Turkish protocols on establishing diplomatic relations and bilateral relations, signed on October 10, 2010 in Zurich, News Armenia reports. The Armenian Foreign Minister was assigned to inform Turkey about the president’s decision. However, Armenia is not drawing back from normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations. Sargsyan’s message to the nation says that the process will only be suspended.
The Moscow-based company Eneton has won an open auction to carry out an exploration project and construction work and will build a high-voltage 110 kilowatt power line between the “North Portal” substation and Nizhniye Ruki village in South Ossetia, RIA Novosti reports. According to Russian government regulations on financing work in South Ossetia from the federal budget, the power line must go online this year. The line will be 42 km long.
The Armenian parliament is a competent agency and should decide the process of normalizing Armenian-Turkish relations itself, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, Trend reports, citing CNN Turk. The premier’s words are a response to declarations made by councils of political parties, members of Armenia’s ruling coalition, about the halting ratification of Armenian-Turkish protocols in Armenia’s National Assembly.
The Iranian foreign minister wants to meet the foreign ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan in a bid to resolve the Nagorny-Karabakh conflict, reports Trend. Manouchehr Mottaki told journalists that Azerbaijan had already agreed to the meeting. "The Karabakh conflict can be resolved through negotiations and on the basis of the principle of justice," he added.
