Syria rebels must distance themselves from "terrorists" - Westerwelle

Source : Strategic-Culture.org

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Saturday the Syrian opposition must distance itself from "terrorist and extremist" forces and said Germany was sceptical about supplying weapons to the rebels.

"We expect from the opposition that they clearly distance themselves in Syria from terrorist and extremist forces," Westerwelle told reporters in Istanbul at a meeting of Syrian opposition leaders and their international backers.

"We are sceptical as the German government when it comes to delivering weapons because we are concerned that weapons could fall into the wrong, namely extremist, hands, but it is a matter that must now be discussed in the European Union."

Turkish PM sends letter to Obama on EU deal, 26 March 2013

Source  :  Turkish weekly

ANKARA -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has sent a letter to U.S. President Barack Obama so that Washington would continue talks with Turkey for a free trade agreement simultaneously with the EU, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan said yesterday.

“If the status quo continues, we may have to put the Customs Union [with the EU] on hold as the Customs Union is now working against Turkey,” Çağlayan said.

However , Turkey has asked Germany to aid it in joining a prospective U.S.-EU free trade agreement (FTA) so that Ankara is not left out in the cold in terms of international trade, Cağlayan told reporters while meeting with Nils Schmid, the deputy premier and economy and finance minister of Baden-Württemberg.

“Difficulties arising from visas, quotas placed on the free movement of Turkish products, and the fact that Turkey cannot sign free trade agreements with countries who already have FTAs with the EU all cause unfair competition for Turkey,” Çağlayan said.

The U.S. and EU launched moves on Feb. 13 to open negotiations on a new free trade pact, which would result in free trade between the two entities, in order to eliminate or minimize barriers everywhere.

The FTA between the EU and third parties enable these other countries’ goods to enter European markets or Turkish markets via Europe with zero duties, but the decision to provide the same privileges to Turkey is up to the discretion of the third party.

EU divided on arms supply to Syria terrorists destroying the country

Source  : Islamic Invitation Turkey

European foreign ministers have failed to reach an agreement on whether to lift an arms embargo on militants in Syria.

The division among the European counties was pushed to bold relief on Friday as the European ministers started two days of informal talks at Dublin Castle.

The European Union should decide on the thorny issue of arms supply on June 1 when Syria sanctions are largely expected to be renewed.

“In order to support a diplomatic and political settlement which is essential for peaceful transition, it will be necessary for us to increase the support that we give” to the opposition in Syria, British Foreign Secretary William Hague was quoted as saying.

“That’s an option for the UK and France, both countries have said that, but our emphasis is on making sure we keep agreement in the EU. That’s what we have been focusing on so far and we’ll have discussions on that,” he said.

Irish Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore hinted that his country would oppose arms shipment to Syria, warning that more guns to the militants would cause more casualties.

“I think further militarization in Syria would certainly not be helpful. The more guns, the more arms that go into Syria, the more casualties there will be,” he said.

Germany, Austria, Sweden and other states expressed concern that arming the militants in Syria would spread the deadly conflict in that country.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of Syrian army and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.

The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.

Damascus says the West and its regional allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are supporting the militants.

Iraqi president Talabani declared brain dead: Claim

Source : Vesti Kavkaza
 

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who was taken to Germany for treatment after suffering a heart attack, has been declared brain dead, French daily Le Figaro reports, according to Turkish daily HaberTürk.Doctors at Berlin's Charite Hospital reportedly said Talabani's health was in irrecoverably bad condition when he arrived in Germany, according to Le Figaro.Official sources have not confirmed the claim yet. The president, who is in his late 70s, was hospitalized on Dec. 17 after what state television reported was a stroke.

Israeli diplomat denies Egypt submarine deal straining ties with Germany

By Israeli diplomat denies Egypt submarine deal straining ties with Germany | Egypt Independent

A former Israeli ambassador to Germany cast doubt on speculation that Germany supplying Egypt with two submarines would considerably change German-Israeli relations, the German news agency DPA reported Monday. “More important is that Israel gets the German Dolphin submarines that can carry nuclear warheads,” former Ambassador Avi Primor said. “It is the only real defense we have against Iran.” On Sunday, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli government sources said the deal would affect the two countries’ relations. A German government spokesperson, Steffan Seibert denied that, stressing that Germany was dedicated to Israeli security. Major General Osama al-Guindy, commander of the Egyptian Navy, had told the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram newspaper on Friday that Egypt and Germany signed an agreement for two Model 209 Submarines, which Yedioth Ahronoth said raised Israeli fears of a declining military edge. “Egypt gets weapons from the United States, our greatest ally, and we do not say anything to that,” Primor added.