news repor volume 6 issue 12

7/31/2019 News Repor Volume 6 Issue 12

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The Weekly Newspaper of Foreign Policy and International Relations Club

Volume 6, Issue 12

THIS

WEEK PAGE

EUROPE 2

AMERICAS 3

ASIA 4

MIDDLEEAST &AFRICA

5

TURKEY6

SOCIAL 7

EDITORIAL 8

13 March 2012

Moscow protesters press election demands

The temperature rose to the high 20s, seeming almost spring-like for Moscow, and it warmed the spirits of a crowd that

had shown signs of glumness Monday, at a rally to protestthe election of Vladimir V. Putin as president. Those gath-ered Saturday were clearly aware of the enormity of the taskahead of them. Putin won nearly 64 percent of the vote, and

critics attributed that as much to efforts to prevent competi-tive candidates from running for office as to voting irregulari-ties. The protesters know they first have to force their au-thoritarian system to allow fair competition in elections sothey can develop leaders who can get their names on the bal-lotso voters can make a real choice. Police estimated thecrowd at 10,000, but organizers put it at 25,000. Crowds ofpeople came and went during the two-hour demonstration,making it difficult to know how many had attended alto-

gether. Continues on page 4

Thousands of protesters rallied in brilliant sunshine and freezing temperatures in Moscow Satur-day, determined to show they will not retreat on their demands for fair elections.

"Syria is ready to make a suc-

cess of any honest effort to finda solution for the events it iswitnessing," state news agencySANA quoted Assad as tellinghis guest. "No political dialogueor political activity can succeedwhile there are armed terroristgroups operating and spread-ing chaos and instability," theSyrian leader said after abouttwo hours of talks with the for-mer U.N. secretary-general. AUN spokesman said Annan

had made proposals on stop-ping the violence and the killing, access for humanitarian agencies, releaseof detainees and the start of political dialogue. Continues on page 5

President Bashar al-Assad told U.N./Arab League envoy Kofi Annan on

Saturday no political solution was possible in Syria while "terrorist"groups were destabilizing the country.

Syria's Assad rebuffs Annan; troops attack Idlib
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-election-skewed-for-putin-observers-say/2012/03/05/gIQAykbXsR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-election-skewed-for-putin-observers-say/2012/03/05/gIQAykbXsR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russians-voting--and-watching/2012/03/04/gIQA3j6CqR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russians-voting--and-watching/2012/03/04/gIQA3j6CqR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-election-skewed-for-putin-observers-say/2012/03/05/gIQAykbXsR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/russian-election-skewed-for-putin-observers-say/2012/03/05/gIQAykbXsR_story.html


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EUROPE

Sweden in Saudi Arms DealControversy

Spanish unions Fridaycalled a general strike onMarch 29, the biggestchallenge to date to thepolicies of Prime MinisterMariano Rajoy. The WallStreet Journal / March 9,2012

Slovaks cast ballotsSaturday in an early

election brought on by thegovernment's collapse in aconfidence vote, with pollsindicating success for oneof the few leadingpoliticians to escape voteranger over a majorcorruption scandal. ABCNews / March 10, 2012

The European Commissionhas confirmed it sentinspectors to Spain thisweek to evaluate its budgetdeficit figures for last year.Euronews / March 9,2012

PAGE 2

Confidential documents revealed this week show how Sweden has in

secret been helping Saudi Arabia to plan the construction of an ad-vanced arms factory to produce anti-tank missiles.

Italy slams UK over failed Nigeria rescue

Italy's president has accused Britain of an "inexplicable" failure to consultwith his country before a failed attempt to rescue an Italian and a Britonbeing held in Nigeria by kidnappers who claim ties to al-Qaeda. The twohostages were killed by their captors before a joint British-Nigerian opera-tion could free them, leading to heavy criticism of the UK, and accusationsby Italian politicians that Prime Minister Mario Monti's government is ineptin foreign affairs. Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesman Steve Fieldsaid Monti had not complained over the circumstances of the operation in atelephone call on Thursday with the British leader. He also insisted thatMonti and the previous Italian government had not raised objections to the

possibility of mounting a rescue mission during talks over the last ninemonths. Al-Jazeera / March 9, 2012

Italy has demanded clarification about why the British government did not inform Rome of an op-

eration to rescue two hostages in Nigeria.

Saudia Arabia, was condemned for its human rights violations by organisa-tions such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has never-theless for several years been assisted by experts from the Swedish DefenceResearch Agency (FOI). The agency, which is an authority under the Minis-

try of Defence, has been involved in plans to develop Saudi Arabia's weap-ons industry in cooperation with companies based in Sweden, the defencecompany Eurenco Bofors among others. "It is extremely problematic that agovernment institutional authority assists in planning the establishment ofa weapons factory in a dictatorship where gross human rights violationsoccur," Anna Ek, head of the NGO Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society(SPAS) tells IPS. Classified government documents revealed by the publicbroadcaster Swedish Radio Tuesday show that FOI since 2007 has beeninvolved in a project called Simoom that has been kept secret from the pub-lic. Inter Press Service / March 9, 2012

The Greek deal with banks and other lenders is the largest restructuring ofgovernment debt in history. Some lenders who lost money as a result of thedebt swap will be compensated. That is after the International Swaps andDerivatives Association classified the deal as a "credit event", triggering in-surance payments. Under the debt swap, banks and other financial institu-tions have agreed to exchange their existing Greek government debt for newbonds, which are worth much less and pay a lower rate of interest. Someinvestors bought a type of insurance against that happening. "Today the

problem is solved," French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. Greek FinanceMinister Evangelos Venizelos hailed the swap as an "exceptional success".BBC / March 9, 2012

Greece 'meets bailout conditions' after

debt swapGreece took an important step towards its second bailout after it man-aged to win a crucial debt swap, European leaders have said.


3/8

On Irans nuclear programme, the president said there would be conse-quences for both Israel and the US if action was taken prematurelyand it

was wrong to think a decision had to be made soon: When I see the casual-ness with which some of these folks talk about war, I am reminded of thecosts involved in war. I am reminded of the decisions that I have to make interms of sending our young men and women into battle and the impact ithas on their lives, the impact it has on our national security, on our econ-omy. This is not a game and theres nothing casual about it. Commentatorswere quick to note that the timing of the conferenceSuper Tuesdaymustbe a reminder to his challengers that Obama is still in charge.Euronews / March 6, 2012

Some nations had been threatening to boycottthe meeting in Cartagena, unless Cuba was ad-mitted. But speaking after talks with CubanPresident Raul Castro in Havana, Mr. Santossaid that - without a consensus - he could notmake the invitation. The US had opposedCuba's participation, saying the meeting shouldonly be open to democracies. The AmericasSummit usually involves only members of the

Organization of American States (OAS), andCuba was suspended from the organization in 1962 because of its commu-nist system. Juan Manuel Santos was making the first visit to Cuba by a

Colombian president in a decade. He said Raul Castro had understood thesituation and had made clear that he did not want to complicate matters forColombia. He added that he hoped that Cuba would be able to take part inthe next Americas Summit in Panama. BBC / March 8, 2012

AMERICAS

Colombias Santos: Cuba not invitedto Americas Summit

Native Ecuadorans protest Amazon

mining

Hundreds of native Ecuadorans have begun a cross-country march to pro-test policies by President Rafael Correa which results with smore mining inthe Amazon region and threaten the environment and their way of life. Thenatives plan to march over the next weeks through several provinces on

their way to Quito, gathering protesters along the way. They plan to reachQuito on March 22. Previous protests by CONAIE, which claims to representa third of Ecuador's population of more than 14 million, have already top-pled two presidents, Abdala Bucaram in 1997 and Jamil Mahuad in 2000.

Al-Jazeera / March 9, 2012

Brazil has overtaken theUK to become the world's

sixth-largest economy,according to a team ofeconomists.

The Guardian / March 6,2012

Super Tuesday has been

the night that settles theRepublican presidential

nomination in recent

campaigns.With voters in

ten states casting ballots,

Mitt Romneys supporters

hoped their man would see

off his nearest rival Rick

Santorum. But he only

managed a narrow win in

the blue collar swing state

of Ohio.Euronews / March 7,

2012

President Barack Obama

said six southern Indiana

counties devastated by

severe weather and

tornadoes last week were

eligible for federal disaster

assistance.Reuters / March 10,

2012

PAGE 3

Obama says time remains for Iran talks

President Obama has been defending his policy on Iran in Washington at his first news conferenceof 2012.

Demonstration is organized by powerful umbrella group that representsnatives from around Ecuador.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says Cuba will not be invitedto the Americas Summit in Colombia next month.


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PAGE 4

China has blamed incidents of violence in Xinjiang on Islamicseparatists who want to establish an independent state called EastTurkestan.

ASIA

Moscow protesters press election demands

Thousands of protesters rallied in brilliant sunshine and freezing tem-peratures in Moscow Saturday, determined to show they will not re-treat on their demands for fair elections.

Some Chinese officials have blamed attacks on Muslim militants trained inPakistan, though China's Foreign Ministry has refrained from publiccriticism of Pakistan. Xinjiang's governor, however, was more explicit. "Wehave certainly discovered that East Turkestan activists and terrorists in ourneighboring states have a thousand and one links," Nur Bekri said on thesidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament, when asked about a Pa-kistan connection with attacks in Xinjiang. "But officials, especially in Pa-kistan, have said over and over again they oppose any violent activitiesdirected against China and will maintain China's national sovereignty andcore interests," he said. Reuters / March 7, 2012

Myanmar holds peace talks withKachin rebels

Government restarts negotiations with ethnic Kachin leaders, inattempt to solve one of biggest obstacles to reforms.

Myanmar government peace negotiatorsreopened talks with Kachin rebels on in a bidto settle a stubborn conflict that could impacttentative Western efforts to lift sanctions onthe country. A government source withknowledge of the talks confirmed that adelegation from the Kachin IndependenceArmy met negotiators in the Chinese bordertown of Ruili on Thursday to try to thrash out

truce terms and end fighting that has displaced an estimated 50,000 people

since June 2011. A deal with the Kachins would clear a major hurdle forthe new civilian government in its drive towards "everlasting peace" afterdecades of stop-start fighting in the ethnically diverse, resource-richcountry. Al-Jazeera / March 8, 2012

China official sees militant links inPakistan

Russia's envoy to the UNhas accused Libya ofrunning a training centerfor Syrian rebels combatingthe "legal government" ofPresident Bashar al-Assad.RIA Novosti / March 7,2012

A series of Israeli airstrikest a r g e t e d s u s p e c t e dmilitants across Gazaovernight, killing 13Palestinians and injuring16 others, Palestinianmedical officials said early

Saturday. CNN/ March10, 2012

Pakistan's government hasissued orders banning thecountry's largest Islamicextremist group, the pro-al-Qaeda group formerly

known as the Sipah-e-Sahaba (SSP). BBC / March10, 2012

The demonstration was part of a string of rallies that began in Decemberover complaints that parliamentaryelections were rigged. As last Sundayspresidential election approached, the popular chant was Russia withoutPutin. Though it was still heard Saturday, the more common chants wereRussia will be free and Bring back elections. More than 2,000 policelined the streets and two helicopters buzzed overhead, but the crowd paidthem little attention. Grigory Melkonyants, deputy director of the independ-ent election monitor Golos, expressed what many felt about the elections,

freighted with accusations of fraud. The Washington Post / March 10,2012
http://www.reuters.com/places/pakistanhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ahead-of-march-4-presidential-election-russian-whistleblower-charged-with-slander/2012/02/24/gIQAMlulfR_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/ahead-of-march-4-presidential-election-russian-whistleblower-charged-with-slander/2012/02/24/gIQAMlulfR_story.htmlhttp://www.reuters.com/places/pakistan


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PAGE 5

Film about Ugandan war crimes suspect attracts millions of viewersonline, and prompts debate about group that made it.

MIDDLE EAST

Syria's Assad rebuffs Annan; troops attack Idlib

President Bashar al-Assad told U.N./Arab League envoy Kofi Annan on Saturday no political solu-tion was possible in Syria while "terrorist" groups were destabilizing the country.

An online video drawing attention to the case of alleged war criminalJoseph Kony has gone viral, and provoked lively debate over the activities ofthe US-based group that made it. The 30-minute film, which calls for theUgandan rebel leader to be arrested, had attracted more than 15 millionviews by Thursday, just three days after it was uploaded. KONY 2012 wasposted by Invisible Children, a US non-profit organisation based in SanDiego, California, but with offices in northern Uganda, where Kony's Lord'sResistance Army has waged an armed campaign for more than twodecades. Kony, who started an armed rebellion against the Ugandangovernment in the late 1980s, has been accused of abducting and forcingchildren to join the LRA, charges that led to his indictment by theInternational Criminal Court in 2005. Al-Jazeera / March 9, 2012

Hamas wants to stay out of anywar between Iran and Israel

Leaders of Hamas say they will not be a part of any conflict betweenthese two countries and military assistance will not be send to helpIran.

In Israeli media, there is an effective specu-lation that Israel attacked nuclear facilitiesof Iran, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah inLebanon would fire rockets against Israel inany war with Iran because Hamas and Hez-bollah are allies of Iran. . But MahmoudZahhar, a senior leader of Hamas in Gaza,

told we are not part of any political axis

and if Israel attacks us we will respond, ifthey do not, we will not be a part of any regional conflict. On other hand, anunnamed Hamas official insisted if we attacked Israel, their retaliationwould be much stronger. BBC / March 7, 2012

Viral video focuses debate onUganda rebels

The heated debates aboutnew constitution in Egyptare far away from asettlement. After the fall ofMubarak, the balance ofpower between army andpolitical units is the mainquestion. Euronews /March 3, 2012

Abdo Hussameddin, Syriasdeputy oil minister statedhis defection and hebecame the first highranking official to abandonAssad and he joined anti-g o v e r n m e n t r e v o l t .

Euronews / March 3,

2012

An anti government marchwas organized against KingHamad bin Isa al Khalifa inthe Bahraini capital,

M a n a m a . T e n s o f thousands protestors, mostof them Shia, are against

Sunni dynasty of al Khalifa.BBC / March 9, 2012

The talks were "candid and comprehensive", Annan was quoted as saying.He will meet President Assad again on Sunday before leaving Syria forQatar. Later on Saturday Annan met opposition leaders, young activistsand business people. Thousands have been killed in Syria since a popularuprising against Assad erupted a year ago. While Annan and Assaddiscussed the crisis, Syrian troops were assaulting the northwestern city ofIdlib, a rebel bastion. "Regime forces have just stormed into Idlib with tanksand heavy shelling is now taking place," said an activist contacted bytelephone, the sound of explosions punctuating the call. Sixteen rebelfighters, seven soldiers and four civilians were killed in the Idlib fighting,according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said 15 otherpeople, including three soldiers, had been killed in violence elsewhere.Reuters / March 10, 2012
http://www.reuters.com/places/syriahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqchttp://www.reuters.com/places/syria


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PAGE 6

In his evening speech, the Turkish president advised solving economicproblems and extending the realm of freedoms. You have to be realistic,Gl said, his words frequently cut by applause. Neither Tunisia norTurkey are rich in resources. But both are very rich in human resources.He advised against populist economic policies, giving the example of IbnKhaldun, a 13th century Islamic scientist whos seen as a reference for freemarket policies. The Tunisian flag always excites me, Gl said. Thecommon denominator of the two sides of the Meditteranean is the crescentand the star. In an earlier comment, Gl emphasized that Turkey isopposed to any forces from outside the Middle East region to intervene inSyria. Turkey is against intervention by any force from outside the region.Such an intervention could be subject to exploitation, he said. Speaking ata joint news conference at a presidential palace overlooking the

Mediterranean, both Gl and Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki urgedan end to the violence. Hurriyet Daily News / March 10, 2012

TURKEY

Firm to build gas pipes fromnorthern Iraq

According to energy officials, Istanbul based company plans starting thenatural gas import with a volume of 700 million cubic meters andincreases its transfer capacity to $3 billion by 2033. Siyah Kalem is activein energy, infrastructure, hydro marine and industrial fields. There is notan existing natural gas pipeline from Iraq toTurkey to transfer gas fordomestic market and sell to European market. However, the source saidIraqi officials plans to start the natural gas export by2015.Turkey currently imports natural gas from Russia, ranand Azerbaijan and liquefied petroleum gas from Algeria and Nigeria.Hurriyet Daily News / March 10, 2012

Turkish Airlines says it hasstarted twice-weekly flightsto Mogadishu, the capitalofSomalia, which because ofcivil war and insurgency hasnot had passenger servicefrom an international carrierin more than 20 years.New York Times / March 6,2012

Turkeys Parliament markedInternational Womens Dayon Thursday by approving apackage of laws aimed at

better protecting women andchildren from abuse. It alsois fighting to curb honorkillings and murders ofwomen deemed to have

tarnished the reputation oftheir relatives.

The Washington Post /

March 8, 2012

PAGE 6

Gl addresses Tunisia Parliament, hails revolt

Turkeys energy regulator EPDK confirmed bid of Turkeys Siyah Ka-lem, to import natural gas from Northern Iraq as of yesterdayaccording to some energy officials spoke on the condition ofanonymity.

Turkeys Abdullah Gl yesterday became the first foreign president to address the Tunisianparliament since the 2010 Jasmin Revolution.

Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran call for

urgent solution in KarabakhTurkey, Azerbaijan and Iran reached a consensus on the urgency ofsolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the Caucasus at a jointmeeting on Wednesday.

Convening in Nakhchivan for a three-way meeting, Foreign Minister AhmetDavutolu, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and IranianForeign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi emphasized the importance of a peacefulsettlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, which greatly requiresArmenian efforts, too. The ministers highlighted the importance of reachinga settlement in the issue for regional stability, which will benefit bothArmenia and Azerbaijan. Wednesday's discussions followed a number ofmeetings between the three foreign ministers to discuss regional issues.The ministers stressed that a positive process to enhance regionalcooperation has been ongoing since their first meeting in 2011 in Iran'sUrmia.Todays Zaman / March 7, 2012
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Istanbulhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Azerbaijanhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/turkish_airlines/index.html?inline=nyt-orghttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/somalia/index.html?inline=nyt-geohttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/somalia/index.html?inline=nyt-geohttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/turkish_airlines/index.html?inline=nyt-orghttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Azerbaijanhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Istanbulhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkeyhttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/tag/Turkey


7/8

Religious broadcasterPat Robertson says

marijuana should belegalized and treatedlike alcohol. The out-spoken evangelicalChristian and host ofThe 700 Club on theVirginia Beach-basedChristian Broadcasting

Network he foundedsaid the war on drugsis costing taxpayers

billions of dollars. The Washington Post / March 8,2012

12 March 2012 :

Keanl Ali Destan (Theater) KemalKurda, METU KKM / 20.00

Set (Party) Passage Pub / 22.00

13 March 2012 :

Seslerle Anadolu (Musical) Operet Hall /20.00

Odun Kmr ileri (PhotographyExhibition) AFSAD

Kirli Beyaz (Party) If Performance Hall /21.30

14 March 2012 :

Latin Dance Party (Party) Overall / 20.00 Fosforlu Cevriye (Musical) Cneyt Gker

Stage / 20.00

12. METU Introducing Fair METU KKM /09.00-17.00

ODT IV. GRMCLK KONGRES(Seminar) BF B Building / 11.30-17.15

15 March 2012 :

ZAKKUM (Concert) If Performance Hall /22.00

Fasl Ferhunde Kona / 20.30


ODT IV. GRMCLK KONGRES(Seminar) BF B Building / 11.30-17.15

16 March 2012 :


Kemal Doulu (Concert) Models&Bottles /23.00

Bir Delinin Hatra Defteri (Theater) StdyoStage / 20.00

ODT IV. GRMCLK KONGRES(Workshop) BF B Building / 11.30-17.45

17 March 2012 :

MF (Concert) If Performance Hall / 22.00 Rusalka (Opera) Opera Stage / 20.00

The Georgeous Nineties (Party) RandomPub / 22.00

18 March 2012 :

anakkale ehitlerini AnmaKonseri (Concert) Operet Stage / 20.00

Olivia Leigh (ADELE Tribute ) (Concert) IfPerformance Hall / 22.00

Oyunun Oyunu (Theater) Mavi Stage /17.00

ODDLY ENOUGH

What is OAS?

The Organization of American States is the worldsoldest regional organization, dating back to theFirst International Conference of American States,held in Washington, D.C., from October 1889 to

April 1890. That meeting approved the

establishment of the International Union ofAmerican Republics, and the stage was set for theweaving of a web of provisions and institutionsthat came to be known as the inter-Americansystem, the oldest international institutionalsystem. The OAS came into being in 1948 with the

signing in Bogot, Colombia, of the Charter of theOAS, which entered into force in December 1951.The Organization was established in order toachieve among its member statesas stipulated inArticle 1 of the Charter"an order of peace andjustice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthentheir collaboration, and to defend their

sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and theirindependence." The Organization uses a four-

pronged approach to effectively implement itsessential purposes, based on its main pillars:democracy, human rights, security, anddevelopment.

PAGE 7
http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/charter.htmlhttp://www.oas.org/juridico/english/charter.html


8/8

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