Author Archives: Ali Tuygan

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About Ali Tuygan

Ali Tuygan is a graduate of the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 1967. Between various positions in Ankara, he served at the Turkish Embassy in Brussels, NATO International Staff, Turkish Embassies in Washington and Baghdad, and the Turkish Delegation to NATO. From 1986 to 1989 he was the Principal Private Secretary to the President of the Republic. He then served as ambassador to Ottawa, Riyadh, and Athens. In 1997 he was honored with a decoration by the Italian President. Between these assignments abroad he served twice as Deputy Undersecretary for Political Affairs. In 2004 he was appointed Undersecretary where he remained until the end of 2006 before going to his last foreign assignment as Ambassador to UNESCO. He retired in 2009. In April 2013 he published a book entitled “Gönüllü Diplomat, Dışişlerinde Kırk Yıl” (“Diplomat by Choice, Forty Years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”) in which he elaborated on the diplomatic profession and the main issues on the global agenda. He has published articles in Turkish periodicals and newspapers.

Regime Change

July 5, 2018 In November 2003, thousands of Georgian demonstrators took to the streets to protest the flawed results of a parliamentary election. They gave red roses to the soldiers symbolizing their peaceful intentions. And, soldiers who were expected to … Continue reading

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A Victory for the JDP / A Setback for Turkish Democracy

June 26, 2018 Everybody knew this was a landmark election, the last exit on the road to authoritarian rule. With continuing state of emergency, a failing economy, extreme polarization and a chain of foreign and security policy disasters, Government’s only … Continue reading

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The War in Yemen and the OIC

June 20, 2018 On June 13, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen issued a statement saying he “… extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes to the Islamic Ummah on the advent of … Continue reading

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Turkey’s Election Campaign: Foreign Policy

June 15, 2018 A friend suggested that I should write a post comparing the foreign policy of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party with the outlook of the opposition. I believe the foreign policy record of the JDP speaks for … Continue reading

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The Singapore Summit

June 13, 2018 On April 22 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that “under the proven condition of complete nuclear weapons, we no longer need any nuclear tests, mid-range and intercontinental ballistic rocket tests, and that the nuclear test … Continue reading

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Global Uncertainty and Turkey

June 3, 2018 At the opening session of the Munich Security Conference on February 16, 2018, NATO’s Secretary General Jean Stoltenberg underlined NATO’s past successes and then said: “… But the paradox is that, throughout our history, people have questioned … Continue reading

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Turkey’s Election Campaign: Clashing Manifestos

  Co-authored with Yusuf Buluç (*) May 31, 2018 With the publication of political parties’ election declarations Turkey’s election campaign has gathered steam. In Turkey, political parties’ election declarations/manifestos are much longer than those of Western parties. For example, UK’s Conservative and Unionist … Continue reading

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Turkish People’s Democracy Test

May 21, 2018 The EU summit held in Brussels on December 17, 2004 decided that accession negotiations with Turkey would start on October 3, 2005. The process was accordingly launched at the Luxembourg Intergovernmental Conference. This was three years after … Continue reading

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“Recognizing the Reality”

May 16, 2018 President Trump has called his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “recognition of the reality”. His National Security Advisor John Bolton, speaking to ABC’s “This Week” on May 13 said, “If you’re not prepared to recognize … Continue reading

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The US Withdraws from the Iran Nuclear Deal

May 9, 2018 Yesterday President Trump announced that he is terminating United States’ participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and re-imposing sanctions lifted under the deal. From the very beginning of his presidency Mr. Trump … Continue reading

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