World Press on Iran, Turkey and the Caucasus (January 13, 2011)

The Washington Post reports that Iran has escalated its routine bluster in the run-up to next week's nuclear talks in Istanbul, suggesting the Jan. 21-22 meeting could be a "last chance" for major powers to strike a deal. On Wednesday, it had its reply from the United States' top diplomat: Get serious. U.S. officials have spoken confidently in recent days about the heavy toll that sanctions are having on Iran's economy, and some have expressed optimism that the country's ruling clerics may soon seek a bargain that would include permanently abandoning its pursuit of nuclear weapons. But publicly, Iran has remained combative, as shown by the "last chance" warning this week by its top nuclear negotiator, Ali Asghar Soltanieh.

The New York Times published an article headlined "Yemen and Turkey Deepen Ties With New Accords." It says that Turkey and Yemen signed a series of political and economic agreements this week during a two-day visit by Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Sanaa, the first ever by a Turkish head of state to Yemen. During the visit, officials also discussed expanded military cooperation. Agreements signed during the visit included framework accords for cooperation on defense industries, diplomatic affairs, electronic government and media.

Another article published by the NY Times about Turkey touched on alcohol limits. It says that a Turkish regulatory agency has introduced a decree placing severe restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol. The decree, issued last weekend by the Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority, requires catering companies that organize events that serve alcoholic beverages to get a license before each event. It also prohibits supermarkets and grocery stores from placing alcohol products for sale near goods that attract children.

The Turkish news agency Hurriyet reports that the recent arrest of the head of Azerbaijan's outlawed Islamic party has stirred debate about the role that Islam plays in Azerbaijani politics. Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, or IPA, Chairman Movsum Samadov was arrested Jan. 7 after a video of a speech he made denouncing President İlham Aliyev was posted on the video-sharing website YouTube. As IPA supporters chanted "Allahu Akbar" in the background, Samadov urged Azerbaijanis "to rise up and put an end to this despotic regime." The IPA lost its official registration in 1995 after the arrest of party leaders on harges of spying for Iran and conspiring to carry out a coup.

"Russian aid to Sukhumi to hit $140 million in 2011." Hurriyet published the article which says that The breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia expects to receive about 4.23 billion rubles ($140 million) from the Russia federal budget this year, according to reports. The financial aid is part of an assistance program for the 2010-2012 period, the Abkhaz news agency, Apsnipress, quoted the territory's leader, Sergey Bagapsh, as saying Wednesday during a meeting with the head of Russia's state audit chamber, Sergei Stepashin. The meeting in the Abkhaz capitak Sukhumi included other Abkhaz and Russian officials and was called to review the financial assistance provided to Abkhazia from the Russian federal budget.

The Iranian news agency Press TV published a speech of Israel's Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi, who has reportedly suggested that a military action against Iran's nuclear facilities would have irreparable consequences for Tel Aviv. here are two fronts within the Tel Aviv regime over launching an offensive against Iran. The first warmonger group includes hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak; and the second group, who is worried about the aftermath of a strike, includes Ashkenazi himself, Head of Israel's Mossad spy agency Meir Dagan, Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin and Head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence body Yuval Diskin. In addition to Iran's recent invitation, the IAEA continues to conduct its regular inspections and camera surveillance of Iran's nuclear facilities. Iranian officials and lawmakers have hailed the invitation as a major step toward proving Iran's policy of "nuclear transparency" to the international community.