Category Archives: Uncategorized

Syria Talks Approaching

Posted on January 14, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

January 14, 2016 On December 18, 2015 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2254 approving the road map which had emerged from International Syria Support Group’s (ISSG) two Vienna meetings. A week later, Staffan de Mistura, UN’S Special Envoy … Continue reading →

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When Better Is the Enemy of Good

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

January 8, 2016 For a good number of years drafting a new constitution has been on Turkey’s agenda. The 1982 Constitution has been amended numerous times but our political parties still regard it as the legacy of a military coup … Continue reading →

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The Riyadh-Tehran Rupture

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Ali Tuygan

January 5, 2016 A year ago, some Middle East analysts referred to Saudi Arabia’s new leadership as a cadre of youthful, dynamic royals and technocrats. They said that Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to rise above the fray of the … Continue reading →

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2015 in Retrospect

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

December 28, 2015 Arab Spring turmoil has continued to dominate world’s agenda with the war in Syria, ISIL terrorism and the refugee problem as top items. The confrontation over Ukraine has somewhat receded confirming predictions of a frozen conflict. The … Continue reading →

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UN Security Council Resolutions 2253 and 2254

Posted on December 21, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

December 21, 2015 On December 17, 2015 the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2253 (*) to suppress the financing of terrorism. The 28-page resolution covers asset freeze, travel ban, arms embargo and listing criteria for ISIL, Al-Qaida and “associated … Continue reading →

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Downing of Russian Su-24: The NATO Dimension

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

Co-authored with Yusuf Buluç (*) December 16, 2015 Downing of Russia’s Su-24 bomber on November 24, 2015 has led to tensions between Ankara and Moscow putting decades-long cooperation in danger. Before the incident, a Russian military delegation headed by Major … Continue reading →

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Turkey Needs to Build Trust

Posted on December 14, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

December 14, 2015 In a world of contradictions foreign policy is no exception. The West, for example, always takes care to wave the democracy flag but can become oblivious to democratic values in its dealings with Middle East tyrannies. Russia … Continue reading →

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Moment of Truth for Turkey’s Syria Policy

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

December 3, 2015 On November 27, 2015 the Wall Street Journal reported that the Obama administration was pressing Turkey to deploy thousands of additional troops along its border with Syria to cordon off a 60-mile stretch of frontier that U.S. … Continue reading →

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EU-Turkey Brussels Summit: “The Deal”

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

December 2, 2015 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 two years after … Continue reading →

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Downing of Russia’s SU-24 Warplane

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

November 27, 2015 “Syria: Only More Trouble Ahead” was the title of a piece I wrote in early May. In a region characterized by abundance of gloom and scarcity of hope that much was easy to predict. I would readily … Continue reading →

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