Tag Archives: Turkey

Turkey’s Upcoming Election and the Syria Conflict

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

4 May 2015 On 27 April, the International Crisis Group published the “Statement on a Syrian Policy Framework”. The Statement starts with an analysis of the conflict and then suggests a framework for a political deal based on the understanding … Continue reading →

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Escalation in Yemen

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

15 April 2015 The fighting in Yemen no doubt reminds Turks of a beautiful but sad folk song (Lament of Yemen) mourning the loss of thousands of Turkish soldiers in this far away part of the Ottoman Empire during the … Continue reading →

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Middle East Desperate for a Course Correction

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

10 April 2015 President Obama has again spoken to Thomas L. Friedman of the New York Times. Although the interview essentially aimed at reassuring the people of Israel and Congressional opponents that the framework agreed upon in Lausanne represents the … Continue reading →

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From Joint Action Plan toward a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

Posted on April 5, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

Co-authored with Yusuf Buluc (*) 5 April 2015 On 23 November 2013 P5+1 and Iran reached agreement on a Joint Plan of Action which was a roadmap for the negotiation process that was to follow. Sixteen months later we have … Continue reading →

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Arab States Trying to Overcome Disarray

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

30 March 2015 On 26 March 2015, Saudi Arabia supported by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar started air strikes against the Houthis who in addition to Yemen’s capital Sana had also captured the country’s second largest city … Continue reading →

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Turkish Foreign Policy in a Blind Alley

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

25 March 2015 It was only a decade ago that Turkey, in recognition of its commitment to continuing political and economic reform, was given green light to start accession negotiations with the EU. Peoples of the region were following the … Continue reading →

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Syria Conflict Enters Its Fifth Year

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

17 March 2015 During the past four years of internal strife more than two hundred thousand Syrians lost their lives. Almost half the population is either internally displaced or living as refugees in neighboring countries. Homes and infrastructure are in … Continue reading →

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Polarization: The Greatest Challenge Facing the Middle East

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

10 March 2015 The irrefutable law of physics faces a severe challenge by an insuppressible rule of the sociopolitical order. While opposite poles attract each other under the former, they repel to a point of mutual destruction under the latter. … Continue reading →

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Prime Minister Netanyahu on Iran

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

6 March 2015 I watched PM Netanyahu’s address to Congress. I also read the transcript. What he said on Iran was hardly different from his UN General Assembly speech of 29 September 2014. It was the controversial nature of his … Continue reading →

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Turkey’s Security Challenges

Posted on March 1, 2015 by Ali Tuygan

1 March 2015 Turkey‘s security challenges have always been diverse and tough. During the Cold War Turkey was NATO’s southern flank and shouldered heavy defense responsibilities. When the Cold War was over, Turkey found itself in the middle of three … Continue reading →

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