Category Archives: Uncategorized

Time to Boost Syria’s Political Transition

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

May 9, 2016 “Cessation of Hostilities in Syria”, worked out between Russia and the US and approved by the UNSC through Resolution 2268, entered into force on February 27, 2016. For two months, despite violations, it seemed to hold inspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Obama Legacy: A View from the Middle East

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

May 2, 2016 It was a few months before the 2008 US Presidential election. I was talking to my American colleague at UNESCO. I said to her that since American presidents’ decisions have global implications, democratic countries should also have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

US-GCC Riyadh Summit

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

April 25, 2016 Western media reported that upon arrival in Riyadh on April 20, 2016 for the US-GCC summit President Obama was greeted at the airport by the governor of Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud and the event … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

OIC’s Istanbul Summit

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

April 18, 2016 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the second largest inter-governmental organization after the UN with 57 Member States, held its 13th Summit Conference in Istanbul on April 14-15, 2016. Since its establishment in 1969, the OIC has … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EU Foreign Policy: A View from the Middle East

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

April 12, 2016 The war in Afghanistan and the invasion of Iraq damaged Washington’s claim to world’s moral leadership, particularly America’s public discourse on spreading democracy. Russia and China did not entertain such claims. This left the world with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Russia’s Intervention in Syria (3)

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

April 5, 2015 Russia’s military intervention in Syria was launched on September 30, 2015. On February 22, the United States and the Russian Federation, Co-Chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), issued the “Joint Statement on Cessation of Hostilities … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obama’s Redline in Syria

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 29, 2016 Roughly a year ago I wrote that President Obama’s decision to refrain from military action in Syria, despite a previously declared “redline”, would best be judged by history. However, the controversy around his decision seems to continue. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ripple Effect of the Syrian Conflict

Posted on March 25, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 25, 2016 In early February scientists announced that they had finally detected gravitational waves, the ripples in the fabric of space and time that Einstein predicted a century ago. They are only to be congratulated. Their achievement must have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey-EU Migrant/Refugee Deal

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 20, 2016 The EU-Turkey Statement of March 18,2016 starts with these two paragraphs (*): “Today the Members of the European Council met with their Turkish counterpart. This was the third meeting since November 2015 dedicated to deepening Turkey-EU relations … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Turkey’s Descent

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

March 16, 2016 Terrorist attacks continue to claim rising numbers of innocent lives. The word “gridlock” can hardly describe the political atmosphere. The country is polarized like it has never been. Foreign and security policies are in shambles. Tourism, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment