Turkey

The Middle East Institute’s Center for Turkish Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Turkish Studies present:”Regional and Domestic Challenges for an Ascendant Turkey” June 27th, 20129:00am-5:00pmNational Press Club529 14th Street, NW 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045 Conference Schedule:8:45am – 9:00am: Registration9:00am – 9:15am: WelcomeAmb. Wendy J. Chamberlin, Middle East InstituteGönül Tol, MEI’s Center for Turkish StudiesRoss Wilson, Institute of Turkish Studies 9:15am – 10:00am: Opening KeynoteSenator John McCainUnited States Senate 10:00am – 10:30am: KeynoteAmb.

Senator John McCain was uncharacteristically subdued in a key note address yesterday to the Middle East Institute/Institute of Turkish Studies conference on Turkey.  He prodded President Obama to be more outspoken in denouncing the Assad regime and advocated a “safe zone” inside Syria along the Turkish border, but only in response to a question. He discounted the likelihood of NATO action, which the Europeans oppose, and suggested that the U.S. and Turkey should form the core of a coalition of the willing to support the Syrian opposition with arms and training.

Turkey’s popular and outspoken Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was treated to a hero’s welcome last week when he met with Syrian refugees for the first time since Turkey opened its doors to the thousands of people fleeing Bashar Al-Assad’s crackdown.  Erdogan’s pledge to defend the rights of the Syrian people and his call for Assad’s removal, however, fell short of expectations.  Although Erdogan’s speech drew some applause, it was also interrupted by shouts of “We want arms for the Free Syrian Army and a buffer zone inside Syria!”   The Turkish PM’s reiteration of his previous positi

Originally posted December 2010

This Opinion first appeared in Hurriyet on April 13, 2012

By Alex Vatanka and Soner Çağaptay

This article first appeared in Foreign Policy’s Middle East Channel on April 10, 2012

Dr. George Gavrilis of the Hollings Center for International Dialogue will serve as the discussant. The talk will focus on Younis's recent publication in the Turkish Policy Quarterly on the role of Turkey in a changing MENA region and the potential influence it can have on the process of democratization in Egypt. Younis will also share some insights from Gallup's polling in other Arab Spring countries on the public's perceptions of the challenges facing their nations following the uprisings of 2011.

The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012

The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012

The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012

The Feasibility of the “Turkish Model” for Egypt podcast, 5 April, 2012

This Opinion first appeared in Frontline’s “Tehran Bureau” on April 3, 2012.

This Opinion first appeared in the National on March 5, 2012