Category: Regions

Turkey, Iran to Unite in Joint University?

Iran has announced plans for a joint university with Turkey to expand scientific and technological cooperation.

Iran has announced plans for a joint university with Turkey to expand scientific and technological cooperation, according to a statement issued by Tehran.

Arsalan Qorbani, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology, announced Monday the two nations would set up parallel university branches in Iran’s city of Tabriz, and the Turkish city of Wan.

But the plan, established in a joint Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives of the two countries, has yet to be confirmed by the Turkish and Iranian governments.

“We hope that Iran and Turkey’s joint university will be established in the next six months,” Qorbani told the FARS news agency. He added that Iran intends to draw upon the resources of other Iranian universities to advance the joint effort with Turkey.

Former Iranian Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastijerdi emphasized during a visit to Ankara two years ago that Iran had a special interest in fostering projects that involved mutual cooperation with Turkey.

Mutual pacts between Tehran and Ankara go back as far as 2009, when the two countries signed an agreement to share advances in telecommunications technology.

Tags: Iran ,Ankara ,Anti-Semitism (Campus) ,Tehran ,joint venture

via Turkey, Iran to Unite in Joint University? – Middle East – News – Israel National News.

February 14, 2013
ITCCS : Why the Pope retired For Real

ITCCS : Why the Pope retired For Real : Kevin Annett : European Governance issued an arrest warrant : and Closure and seizure of Vatican assetts : Here are all the notices and dates :

Historic, Breaking News: Wednesday, February 12/13, 2013

Pope Benedict resigned to avoid arrest, seizure of church wealth by Easter –

Diplomatic Note was issued to Vatican just prior to his resignation

New Pope and Catholic clergy face indictment and arrest as “Easter Reclamation” plan continues

A Global Media Release and Statement from The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS)

Brussels:

The historically unprecedented resignation of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope this week was compelled by an upcoming action by a European government to issue an arrest warrant against Ratzinger and a public lien against Vatican property and assets by Easter.

The ITCCS Central Office in Brussels is compelled by Pope Benedict’s sudden abdication to disclose the following details:

1. On Friday, February 1, 2013, on the basis of evidence supplied by our affiliated Common Law Court of Justice (itccs.org), our Office concluded an agreement with representatives of a European nation and its courts to secure an arrest warrant against Joseph Ratzinger, aka Pope Benedict, for crimes against humanity and ordering a criminal conspiracy.

2. This arrest warrant was to be delivered to the office of the “Holy See” in Rome on Friday, February 15, 2013. It allowed the nation in question to detain Ratzinger as a suspect in a crime if he entered its sovereign territory.

3. A diplomatic note was issued by the said nation’s government to the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, on Monday, February 4, 2013, informing Bertone of the impending arrest warrant and inviting his office to comply. No reply to this note was received from Cardinal Bertone or his office; but six days later, Pope Benedict resigned.

4. The agreement between our Tribunal and the said nation included a second provision to issue a commercial lien through that nation’s courts against the property and wealth of the Roman Catholic churchcommencing on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. This lien was to be accompanied by a public and global “Easter Reclamation Campaign” whereby Catholic church property was to be occupied and claimed by citizens as public assets forfeited under international law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

5. It is the decision of our Tribunal and the said nation’s government to proceed with the arrest of Joseph Ratzinger upon his vacating the office of the Roman Pontiff on a charge of crimes against humanity and criminal conspiracy.

6. It is our further decision to proceed as well with the indictment and arrest of Joseph Ratzinger’s successor as Pope on the same charges; and to enforce the commercial lien and “Easter Reclamation Campaign” against the Roman Catholic church, as planned.

In closing, our Tribunal acknowledges that Pope Benedict’s complicity in criminal activities of the Vatican Bank (IOR) was compelling his eventual dismissal by the highest officials of the Vatican. But according to our sources, Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone forced Joseph Ratzinger’s resignation immediately, and in direct response to the diplomatic note concerning the arrest warrant that was issued to him by the said nation’s government on February 4, 2013.

We call upon all citizens and governments to assist our efforts to legally and directly disestablish the Vatican, Inc. and arrest its chief officers and clergy who are complicit in crimes against humanity and the ongoing criminal conspiracy to aid and protect child torture and trafficking.

Further bulletins on the events of the Easter Reclamation Campaign will be issued by our Office this week.

Issued 13 February, 2013

12:00 am GMT

by the Brussels Central Office,

The International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State

via ITCCS : Why the Pope retired For Real : Kevin Annett : European Governance issued an arrest warrant : and Closure and seizure of Vatican assetts : Here are all the notices and dates : « lightworkersxm.

February 14, 2013
Turkey wants more Russian gas

Photo: EPA

Russia and Turkey are ready to begin talks about an increase in Russian export gas supplies. For the time being, under discussion are additional 3 billion cubic metres of gas annually. However, experts are sure that the consumption of fuel in Turkey as well as the demand for Russian gas will grow in the country in the coming few years.

Turkey has limited reserves of natural gas. Today Turkey is spending billions of dollars on prospecting for new gas deposits in the south-east of the country and in the Black Sea. 17 new oil and gas deposits have already been discovered. Some experts say that there are big reserves of shale hydrocarbons in Turkey. In any case, Turkey can effectively handle only the natural gas it imports. In compliance with the Russian-Turkish contract, the Russian gas giant Gazprom supplies nearly 26 billion cubic metres of gas to Turkey annually. In the future Turkey would like to receive from 29 to 30 cubic metres of gas per year. Gas consumption in the country is growing. Russian fuel is transported to Turkey through the Western Corridor and the Blue Stream gas pipelines. If Turkey wants, their capacity could be increased, Head of the Analytical Research Department at the URALSIB Company Alexander Golovtsov says.

“Turkey’s population is growing. Therefore, gas consumption in the country will grow too. Hence, unless the global situation with Iran is settled and torrential gas flows start coming from it to Turkey, the demand for Russian gas will grow, and with the existing growth rates another 5 years will be needed to fill the Blue Stream gas pipeline with gas.”

Russia is not the only supplier of natural gas to Turkey, the partner of the consulting RusEnergy Company Mikhail Krutikhin says.

“Another stage of the gas project leading to Azerbaijan will be launched by 2018, and the volume of the pumped Azeri gas to Turkey will increase as well. Besides, Turkey plans to receive gas from Iraqi Kurdistan, in addition to the liquefied natural gas (LNG). Although Russia is Turkey’s very important partner, it is not its only partner.”

Thus, Turkey is trying to receive the maximum benefit from its geographic position – between the countries involved in gas extraction. Besides, Turkey holds a monopoly on the transit of natural gas because it has established its control over the Black Sea’s outlet to the Mediterranean Sea, Mikhail Krutikhin said.

“Turkey does not let large gas carriers to enter the Black Sea. Thus, the capacity of the Bosporus Strait and the Dardanelles hamper Ukraine’s plans to build a terminal for the import of liquefied natural gas.”

In fact, Russia and Turkey have similar views regarding gas issues. Russia’s Gazprom is seeking to diversify its export flows and to sell its gas to various countries. The Turkish market, which is more dynamic than the European market, remains more attractive. And as regards Turkey, it is trying to develop its own system of gas import, buying gas from numerous buyers – a little at a time, aiming to become dependent on nobody. But even with the existing arrangement, Russian gas pipelines remain the most effective mechanism.

via Turkey wants more Russian gas: Voice of Russia.

February 14, 2013
German DIY chain Praktiker withdraws from Turkey

Feb 11 (Reuters) – German do-it-yourself chain Praktiker AG is closing its stores in Turkey and withdrawing from the country after failing to sell the nine stores its operates there.

The company, which is battling to return to profit, said on Monday its Turkish subsidiary filed for managed insolvency proceedings with an Istanbul court earlier in the day.

“We cannot afford a persistent loss-maker like Turkey. We made intensive efforts to sell our Turkish subsidiary but could not reach an agreement that was economically acceptable for us,” Praktiker Chief Executive Armin Burger said in a statement.

He said the company should manage to improve profitability in all other countries in which it runs stores by adjusting structures and processes and by further curbing costs. (Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by David Holmes)

via German DIY chain Praktiker withdraws from Turkey | Reuters.

February 14, 2013
Lurgan band move to Turkey and become serious Eurovision contenders

IN tonight’s Lurgan Mail we bring you an exclusive report on a Lurgan band who are bidding for Eurovision glory.

(Their Song : )

Inchequin looked to have called it a day when Hugh O’Neill and Sinead Bradley moved to Turkey, but instead the move has rejuvenated the band to the point where they’ve recruited three new members, all of whom are household names in their native Turkey, and become serious contenders for the Eurovision crown.

Their song ‘Son Kez’ is competing to become Ireland’s Eurovision entry. Read all about it in this week’s Lurgan Mail.

via Lurgan band move to Turkey and become serious Eurovision contenders – Local – Lurgan Mail.

February 14, 2013
Turkey Moves Closer to EU Membership Talks

France on Tuesday said it was ready to resume EU accession talks with Turkey, marking a warming of ties after a long period of bilateral tension under former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Speaking at the sidelines of a conference on Libya on Tuesday, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius told his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu that Paris is ready to unblock European Union membership talks on the subject of regional policy.

“I confirmed to him that we were ready … to begin discussions on chapter 22,” Fabius told a news conference. Turkey has completed just one of 35 policy “chapters” every candidate must conclude to join the EU. All but 13 of those chapters are blocked by France, Cyprus and the European Commission.

Turkey launched a formal EU accession bid in 2005, four decades after the first talks but the process has stalled due to opposition from core EU members France and Germany as well as an intractable dispute over Cyprus, the divided island state that Turkey does not recognise.

The talks have also been blocked by the European Commission, which says that Turkey does not yet meet the required standards on human rights, freedom of speech and religion.

“This is certainly a change of attitude from the former government,” said one official in Paris, although he added it was “too early” to tell whether France would now swing fully behind Turkish EU membership – a sharp contrast to Sarkozy’s position that Turkey did not form part of Europe.

Related Story: While Turkey’s Economic Star Rises, Sarkozy’s France Finds Irrelevance

Another French diplomatic described it as “a political signal, a first step” to pave the way for French President Francois Hollande to visit Turkey, although no date has been set.

Despite the slow progress, the eurozone crisis and waning domestic support, Turkey has continued to push for full membership in the EU and has said it wants to join before 2023, the centenary of its founding as a republic.

Earlier this month, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said his country’s half-century wait join the EU was “unforgivable” and it should be admitted without delay.

Erdogan has previously warned that the EU could “at the very least” lose Turkey if the bloc continues to alienate and give it the cold shoulder and recently raised the possibility of deepening ties with the Russian-Chinese backed Shanghai Co-operation Organisation instead.

At the end of last year, Ankara accused the EU of “biased and unwarranted bigoted attitudes” in an official report on its membership application process.

In a statement accompanying the official 270-page report, Turkey’s EU affairs minister Egemen Bagis said:

Today there is no government in Europe which is more reformist than our government. While EU countries are struggling in crisis, our country is experiencing the most democratic, prosperous, modern and transparent period in its history. The ‘sick man’ of yesterday has got up and summoned the strength to prescribe medication for today’s Europe … and to share the EU’s burden rather than being a burden to it.

In the decade ending 2012, Turkey recorded the highest-growth rate among the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development economies and is expected to grow 4 percent or more in 2013.

via Turkey Moves Closer to EU Membership Talks | Economy Watch.

February 14, 2013