World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (March 15, 2011)

The New York Times published the article “West Does Nothing at Its Own Peril.” The author analysed results of three months of Arab revolt against autocratic leaders. He considered that the only clear strategic winner from the changes so far is Iran. The truth is, the United States, and allies like Britain and France, have been extremely wary in expressing just what kind of democracy they would like to emerge in Egypt and Tunisia, and how the voices of those countries might support their counterparts’ struggle in Iran and blunt the mullahs’ drive toward nuclear confrontation.

The Washington Post published the article headlined “How much can we justify spending on nuclear weapons?” The author considers the tragedy in Japan and necessity for the US to keep 1,500 warheads or bombs, many even more powerful than 100 kilotons and almost all ready to be launched or dropped anywhere in the world inside of one hour. He also pays attention to the signing of START-3. He says that an irony of the recent Senate ratification of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia was that President Obama committed to a major strengthening of both the U.S. nuclear arms building complex and the replacement of each country’s strategic nuclear delivery systems.

The information agency Hurriyet reports that the Turkish Justice Ministry has refused a request from Interior Ministry inspectors that arrested former police chief Hanefi Avcı be tried for “insulting the state of the Turkish republic” in statements in a book he wrote. The request for Avcı to be tried under Article 301, which criminalizes insulting the Turkish state or Turkishness, was based on his recent book, which alleged that there are a number of links between the Fethullah Gülen community and the country’s police force. The authority to try people under that article requires the Justice Ministry’s permission. The ministry ruled Avcı’s book fell within the scope of freedom of thought and speech.

Another article published by Hurriyet is subtitled “Rights watchdog 'forced to close Uzbekistan office'.” It says that leading rights watchdog Human Rights Watch has been forced to close its Uzbekistan office after the government moved to cancel its registration. Without giving any reason, the government of the ex-Soviet state has launched legal action to cancel the organization's registration after 15 years, the New York-based group said, with the first hearing set for Tuesday. The president of Central Asia's most populous country, Islam Karimov, in January made his first official visit to Brussels after two decades in power for talks on energy and Afghanistan, which shares a border with Uzbekistan.

Press TV reports that a total number of 257 Iranian lawmakers have issued a statement, voicing support for popular movements in the Middle East and North Africa against despotic regimes. The Iranian lawmakers called on security forces in such countries to join popular movements and help overthrow their despotic regimes. They said that the West, in particular the US, spared no effort to suppress such popular movements.

“'Regional uprisings, cry for freedom'” is an article published by Press TV. It says that Iran's Parliamentary Friendship Groups say the recent popular uprisings in the region are in the interests of Muslim nations as they are based on Islamic values. They warned about the interfering of Western countries, particularly the US, for confiscating the popular revolutions in the region.  The group also voiced concern over the violent crackdown on anti-government protesters.  The statement comes as people in Bahrain, Libya, Yemen and Saudi Arabia have been protesting against their governments.