Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Thursday that his nation supports the construction of the controversial South Stream pipeline, which will take Russian gas across the Turkish waters of the Black Sea. Meeting directly with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Erdogan announced that the final negotiations included a guarantee of Russian help in the construction of Turkey’s nuclear power plants. The deal comes just a month after Turkey agreed to participate in the Nabucco pipeline project, a EU-backed pipeline that will bring gas from the Caucasus to Europe, bypassing Russia. The project is one of several attempts by the EU to diversify its energy imports after Russia, in a dispute with Ukraine, turned off much of the continent’s gas supply last winter. Some saw Ankara’s involvement in the Nabucco project as a way for Turkey, seeking membership in the 27-nation bloc, to strengthen its European relations. But even though Putin called South Stream an “alternative” and not a “rival” to Nabucco, the new agreement may undercut Europe’s efforts to weaken the Russian monopoly.
Niger President Mamadou Tandja dissolved both Parliament and the state constitutional court over a term-limit disagreement, but has won enough support from his electorate this week to move forward with plans for what some foresee as lifelong rule. In a referendum on the current constitution, 92.5 percent of voters supported a revision containing no term-limits and that granted extensive powers to the nation’s executive. Voters also overwhelmingly approved a motion to push back by three years the next presidential elections. Tandja has defended his move by trumpeting several large-scale economic programs that the Niger government began during his decade in office. Foreign investors are heavily involved in uranium mining in the country (which is set to open the world’s biggest mine for the metal) and are helping construct a hydroelectric dam. Opposition leaders for the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic have expressed deep suspicion about the validity of the results, which have yet to be approved by the newly appointed constitutional court. Foreign voices have aired similar criticism, with the European Union already curbing an aid program and threatening further sanctions.
Colombian president Álvaro Uribe met with Latin American leaders this past week, hoping to win their support for a military agreement between his nation and the United States. Uribe ended his tour yesterday by meeting with Brazilian president Luiz Ignácio Lula de Silva, who expressed concern over a U.S. military presence in the region. The deal between the United States and Colombia would grant U.S. officials access to at least seven Colombian military bases while the United States, in return, would provide over 1,000 personnel to assist Bogota in combating drug trafficking and terrorism. Uribe faced severe criticism during his tour from protesters and South American leaders alike, most notably Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez, who told Uribe in a meeting that a Colombian-U.S. deal “does not contribute” towards the goal of reducing conflict in Latin America. Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez also criticized the plan noting that “the Yankee empire” hopes to “provoke a war” between neighboring Colombia and Venezuela. Uribe did pick up support from Peruvian leader Alan Garcia who commended Uribe for taking “a strong democratic lead.”
At least 36 people have been killed in attacks across Iraq targeted at Shiite pilgrims. An additional 60 people were injured in a mosque bombing in the northern city of Mosul and separate bombings in Baghdad. The mosque bombing occured during Friday prayers at a Shiite mosque in the predominantly Sunni city, while in Baghdad roadside bombs hit pilgrimage buses entering the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City. The attacks are a continuation of recent bombings at Shiite centers that killed 29 people and injured more than 130 others. Shiite pilgrims have been traveling to the holy city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, to celebrate the birth of the twelfth Mehdi, the last of 12 imams directly related to the Prophet Muhammad whose return to society is anticipated by Shiites around the world.