Category Archives: Uncategorized

And the Loser Is…

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

March 7, 2018 The world is in disarray. 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. … Continue reading →

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UNSC Resolution 2401(2018): What It Does Say/Not Say About Afrin

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

February 28, 2018 UNSC Resolution 2401 (2018) of February 24 demands that all parties cease hostilities without delay for a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria. It calls upon all parties to immediately lift the … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Syria Predicament

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

February 22, 2018 In Syria, Turkey is running in a narrowing alley. On the one hand, Secretary Tillerson recently said, “…we’re not going to act alone any longer. We’re not going to be U.S. doing one thing and Turkey doing … Continue reading →

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“Normalizing” Turkish-American Relations

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

February 18, 2018 In view of increasing tensions between Ankara and Washington, engaging in comprehensive, substantial and authoritative talks at sufficiently high level, preferably in Ankara to be of consequence, had become the dictate of diplomacy (1).  Last week, following … Continue reading →

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Who are the terrorists?

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

February 5, 2018 Washington designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. Last week the Department of State also designated its leader Ismail Haniyeh as a terrorist. Some in the Arab world were no doubt delighted whereas Turkish Foreign … Continue reading →

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Turkish-American Relations Under Strain

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

January 29, 2018 On May 16, 2017 Presidents Erdogan and Trump had talks in Washington. A few days before the visit I had said: “…neither Ankara nor Washington can afford a too rocky relationship with too many ups and downs. … Continue reading →

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Shifting Priorities in Syria

Posted on January 22, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

January 22, 2018 On January 17, Secretary Tillerson delivered remarks at Stanford University. His topic was “The Way Forward for the United States Regarding Syria”. Next to him was Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser and later Secretary of State during … Continue reading →

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From a War of Travel Advisories to a Face-off in Syria

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

January 15, 2018 On December 28, 2017, the Turkish Embassy in Washington issued a statement which welcomed the decision of the U.S. to resume regular visa procedures by lifting the restrictions applied to Turkish citizens and said that in accordance … Continue reading →

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Obituary for Turkey’s EU Accession Process

Posted on January 7, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

January 7, 2017 Turkey remains in diplomatic isolation. Once, the government called this “precious loneliness”, a price Ankara was prepared to pay no matter what for its “principled foreign policy”. However, this policy of needless defiance coupled with the decline … Continue reading →

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Iran Protests and the Middle East

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Ali Tuygan

January 4, 2013 The protests in Iran became a focus of international attention during the past week. In the background were the nature of the Iranian regime, its expanding regional reach which is largely a result of the 2003 US … Continue reading →

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