Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Idlib Problem Still with Us

Posted on April 27, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

April 27, 2020 Coronavirus is seen as the greatest global challenge of modern times. Because, the death toll in some countries has reached tens of thousands. Just as important is the shock of unpreparedness, helplessness and vulnerability of a technologically … Continue reading →

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“International Community” and the UN System

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

April 20, 2020 Some say that after coronavirus passes “nothing will be the same”. Should that prove to be the case, hopefully the past will not dictate the future. Last week, President Trump announced he was halting funding to the … Continue reading →

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Sailing in Uncharted Waters

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

April 7, 2020 The Arab Spring threw the Middle East in chaos. Then came the Ukraine conflict and Russia’s annexation of Crimea. As the Syrian conflict moved up on the international agenda the former receded. Despite on and off official … Continue reading →

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Front Lines of the Battle Against Covid-19

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

March 27, 2020 “Operation Enduring Freedom”, “Operation Resolute Support”, “Operation New Dawn”, “Operation Unified Protector”, “Operation Decisive Storm”, to name a few, were recent decades’ ambitiously titled military interventions seeking to achieve narrow ends. Although diplomacy and multilateralism were sidelined, … Continue reading →

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The Moment of Truth for the “International Community”

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

March 14, 2020 Mr. Kofi Annan who served as the seventh Secretary General of the UN from January 1997 to December 2006 was a remarkable diplomat and a statesman. In September 1999, in a speech on “the meaning of international … Continue reading →

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Afghanistan: Beyond Titles

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

March 10, 2020 Some believe that first impression is the last impression. So, they say one never gets a second chance to make a first impression. For others, first impressions count but last impressions are forever. I had my first … Continue reading →

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Idlib Ceasefire: Only a Respite

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

March 8, 2020 On March 6, Presidents of Russia and Turkey met in Moscow. In remarks to the press before their meeting, President Putin said the situation in Idlib has deteriorated so much that the two leaders needed to have … Continue reading →

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An Ultimatum That Boomeranged

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

(Co-authored with Yusuf Buluç)[i] The people of Turkey held their breath on the eve of the deadline set in the ultimatum  President Erdoğan served on the Syrian regime promising severe military punishment if  its forces  were not to withdraw to … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Narrowing Horizons

Posted on February 27, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

February 27, 2020 In the fall of 1966, I took a series of exams to join the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Among other things, we were asked to comment on a widely used metaphor, “Turkey is a bridge between East and … Continue reading →

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Idlib: Raising the Stakes to What End?

Posted on February 20, 2020 by Ali Tuygan

(Co-authored with Yusuf Buluç)[i] February 20, 2020 Ten days ago, President Putin had a telephone conversation with President Erdogan at Turkish side’s initiative. A statement by the Kremlin said that the two leaders noted the importance of the full implementation … Continue reading →

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