World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (November 29, 2011)

The Washington Post reported that Iran’s constitutional watchdog has ratified a bill that reduces diplomatic relations with Britain following London’s support of recently upgraded U.S. sanctions on Tehran. State radio says the Guardian Council ratified the bill on Monday after parliament approved it the day before. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad now has five days to sign the bill before Iran’s foreign ministry can act on it. The bill requires both Iran and Britain to withdraw their ambassador from the other country and reduce representation to the level of charge d’affaires. Iran’s relations with Britain have become increasingly strained, largely because of increasing tensions over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. The West says Iran is developing nuclear weapons — a charge Iran denies.

The same theme was touched by The New York Times. It published the article headlined “Iran Moves to Downgrade Its Relations with Britain.” it says that The Guardian Council, an Iranian clerical body that has oversight on bills passed by Parliament, unanimously endorsed a bill approved on Sunday to expel Britain’s ambassador and reduce diplomatic contacts, Iranian news agencies reported.  The council determined that the legislation was “not in violation of Islamic principles or articles of the Iranian Constitution,” the Fars News Agency quoted a council spokesman as saying.

“Paris invites Ankara to EU meet on Syria” is an article published by the Turkish information agency Hurriyet. It says that An EU decision on whether to invite Turkey to a key meeting on Syria will be critical in determining whether the bloc will become a “global power” or remain “political dwarf,” according to Turkish Foreign Ministry officials. France announced yesterday that it had suggested that non-EU member Turkey be invited to a foreign ministers’ meeting on the ongoing unrest in Syria because of Ankara’s key role in the Arab republic’s crisis. Paris’ invitation to Ankara is significant as France, along with EU heavyweight Germany, has long expressed skepticism at Turkey’s bid to join the 27-member union.

The Iranian information agency Press TV reported that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey have signed a cooperation agreement to increase the level of consular interactions. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates' Affairs, Hassan Qashqavi, and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, Naji Koru, inked the accord in Tehran on Monday, IRNA reported. The agreement is comprised of 16 articles, each stipulating an element of cooperation in different consular matters and related affairs.