http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2011/09/27/371540.htm
Sep 27, 2011
It may be time to put on the brakes a little
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=it-may-be-time-to-put-on-the-brakes-a-little-2011-09-26
Monday, September 26, 2011
MEHMET ALİ BİRAND
Turkey's foreign policy actions and the prime minister's speeches have created the impression among both the international as well as the Turkish public that Ankara has begun showing its muscles for the first time and initiated a show of strength in the region.
As a matter of fact, such striking incidents have succeeded each other and both the prime minister and certain other ministers have spoken so frequently and severely that everyone looking at things from the outside has grown anxious. That Turkey has been pointing toward its military might for the first time has also resulted in the proliferation of these worries and doubts. The language and style employed in speeches in particular have accelerated the increase.
It seems, however, that the time has arrived to put on the brakes.
Turkish role in regional developments "questionable": Iran ex-FM
http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1856336&Lang=E
Service: Foreign Policy
1390/07/05
09-27-2011
15:29:47
News Code :9007-03088
TEHRAN (ISNA)-Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called Turkish role in regional developments "questionable."
Mottaki highlighted Turkish influence in the region and called for officials of the country to maintain their current position in the region.
Iranian former Chief Diplomat referred to developments in Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain and said, "The West is gravely concerned about losing its protégées in the countries and appearance of new regimes in the region based on nations' will which will not be desired by the US for sure."
He also added Turkish, Qatari and Saudi Arabian role in regional developments is highly "questionable."
"Saudi Arabia should be held accountable for its anti-human approaches on Tunisian, Egyptian, Bahraini and Yemeni nations and its totally different position on Syria."
He also added, "Saudi Arabian measures which aim to create fear among people will not be cleaned from memories of the nations."
"Turkey will face severe problems if it refuses to correct its path which it selected due to the US propaganda and promises by regional reactionaries."
He then called for Turkey not to be a NATO partner in destruction of Libya.
Mottaki continued, "There is no justification for the shift in Turkish position from supporting people in Bahrain to hosting elements involved in torture of Bahraini people (al-Khalifa) family in Ankara.
He also added Turkish third mistake is that it has stood by Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved in killing people in Bahrain.
Iranian Foreign Minister called Turkish expulsion of Zionist regime's ambassador "a show."
"Muslim nation of Turkey and its revolutionary youth have always opposed existence of Israeli embassy inside their soil.
Elsewhere, regarding deployment of missile shield in Turkey, he said, "The measure could be the initial step for the main step which is deployment of the US missiles in Turkey."
Davutoğlu meets Iraqi minister to discuss Syria, terrorism
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-258074-davutoglu-meets-iraqi-minister-to-discuss-syria-terrorism.html
26 September 2011, Monday / TODAYSZAMAN.COM,
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has met with his Iraqi counterpart who is known for his anti-Turkey views to discuss bilateral relations, recent developments in Syria and cooperation in fight against terrorism.
Davutoğlu, who is in New York to attend UN meetings, had talks with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Diplomatic sources said both foreign ministers discussed bilateral ties between the two countries and developments in the Middle East, particularly Syria, state-run Anatolia news agency reported on Monday.
The sources also said Zebari and Davutoğlu discussed ways to cooperate in fight against terrorism. Zebari last month harshly criticized Turkey for its cross-border military operations against camps belong to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, claiming that Turkey is breaching sovereignty.
Al-Rahi: We Asked France to Eliminate Hizbullah's Excuses to Retain Arms
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/15953-al-rahi-we-asked-france-to-eliminate-hizbullahs-excuses-to-retain-arms
by Naharnet Newsdesk
27 September 2011, 15:41
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi revealed on Tuesday that he had requested from France that the excuses for Hizbullah to maintain its possession of arms be eliminated.
He said during the Dar al-Fatwa spiritual summit: "We requested French assistance in eliminating its excuses to keep its weapons and help in strengthening the Lebanese army because only then can we say that the party no longer needs its arms."
He made his request during his visit to France a few weeks ago.
Addressing Arab developments, he stated: "Regarding Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime and the need to introduce democracy in Syria, we as a church do not oppose any political system, but we support democracy, reform, justice, and freedoms."
"We oppose violence regardless of which side it comes from," al-Rahi added.
"We have seen the example of Iraq where democracy has turned into a civil war, which resulted in the
"We hope that the developments in Syria won't develop into a civil war between Sunnis and Alawites that may spread to Lebanon seeing as it too has Sunni and Alawite populations," he warned.
He reiterated his fear of the ascension of extremist groups to power in Syria.
"Political choices are left to the political leaders, but the Patriarchate is demanding that national principles and mutual coexistence be respected," the patriarch stressed.
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