Category Archives: Uncategorized

Turkey Needs to Launch a Syria Inquiry

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 25, 2016 Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus met a group of journalists, professors and think tank representatives on August 15, 2016. He reportedly said: “Many of the things Turkey is facing today is the result of our Syria policy. … Continue reading →

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Vice President Biden’s Upcoming Visit to Turkey

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 22, 2016 On April 6, 2009 President Obama addressed the Turkish Parliament (1). His remarks were full of praise for Turkey. He said:                                 … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Troubled Relations with Europe

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 15, 2016 In retrospect, one of EU’s major foreign and security policy mistakes was the blunting of whatever momentum Turkey’s accession process had. It goes without saying that this was also Turkey’s failure. Had both sides acted with foresight, … Continue reading →

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All Turkey Needs is to Return to the Democratic Path

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 4, 2016 It was only a decade ago that, despite lingering doubts and internal controversy, the EU launched accession negotiations with Turkey. Peoples of the region were following the process with envy. It was less than a decade ago … Continue reading →

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President Obama and the Middle East (2)

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

August 1, 2016 On July 28, 2016, David Nakamura of the Washington Post reported that President Obama took the stage at the Democratic National Convention at a time when the nation is more starkly polarized than before. The words “starkly … Continue reading →

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Quo Vadis Turkey? (2)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 25, 2016 A year-and-a-half ago I wrote (*): “We Turks need to understand that our success as a nation, especially in the field of foreign policy, depends first and foremost upon our internal peace and stability. The amount of … Continue reading →

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A Critical Meeting in Moscow

Posted on July 20, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 20, 2016 The need for US-Russian cooperation for the resolution of Middle East problems, prominently among them the Syrian conflict, had been obvious from the start (1). On February 22, the United States and the Russian Federation, Co-Chairs of … Continue reading →

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Iraq, Afghanistan, Terrorism and a Word on Turkey

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 18, 2016 On July 6, 2016, Mr. Tony Blair responded to the Report of the Iraq Inquiry during a two-hour-long press conference. Answering a question, he said that there was a decision and it was a controversial decision – … Continue reading →

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The Iraq Inquiry

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 11, 2016 On July 6, 2016, Sir John Chilcot, made a statement on the “Report of the Iraq Inquiry”. In less than twenty-nine minutes, he summarized the conclusions of the 2.6 million-word report with clarity, precision and eloquence. He … Continue reading →

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Loneliness, Not So “Precious” After All

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

July 4, 2016 The mother of all Turkey’s current foreign policy problems in the Middle East is our misguided involvement in the Syrian conflict. Yes, President Assad may have been a dictator; yes, he may have missed opportunities to start … Continue reading →

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