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Turkish Geopolitics/ Foreign Affairs

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A heartbroken Turk belly-dancing to Persian santouri

Burat Bekdil

October/29/2014


Everything would have come up roses between Ankara and Tehran. Certain things did come up roses. Trade, of both the conventional and shady varieties, actually did prosper. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while he was still the prime minister, said he felt that Tehran was his second home. He smiled and felt proud when former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad praised his good friend Mr. Erdoğan “for his clear stance against the Zionist regime.” The “Passage to Persia” was in perfect progress.

But this column also noted times of less optimism: “Mr. Erdoğan and his men, for the Shiite mullahs in Tehran, are too Western, too little Muslim, too Sunni and too shrewd; they are probably a modern-day Trojan Horse in the eyes of their Shiite neighbors. And Mr. Ahmadinejad’s Iran, for the Sunni mullahs in Ankara, is too Shiite, discreetly too hostile/rival, too ambitious and possibly too unreliable,” (Apr. 7, 2011).

A year-and-a-half before a coup against the Muslim Brothers in Cairo made Egypt Turkey’s new regional nemesis, this column also predicted that “Mr. [then-Foreign Minister Ahmet] Davutoğlu and his briefcase full of neo-Ottoman ambitions are simply not so wanted in Tehran, Baghdad, Damascus or in influential office rooms in Beirut. Soon they will be unwanted in Egypt and Libya, too …

“Ankara naively thinks that it can win hearts and minds in Tehran by opposing the [Western] sanctions … Professor Davutoğlu may confidently believe that his powers of persuasion work more than perfectly in Tehran and Cairo – like they more than perfectly worked in Damascus and Beirut …

“After the usual smiles, exchange of pleasantries and good wishes in his January visit to Tehran, [Davutoğlu] said ‘the rise of a Shiite Crescent could turn into an opportunity if Turkey and Iran enhance their dialogue,’ inspiring ‘Turkish belly-dancing to Persian santouri,’” (this column, Jan. 11, 2012).
And part II of “Turkish belly-dancing to Persian santouri” provided an unwilling prologue almost three years before President Erdoğan put it in different wording: “Just like it took Ankara several years to find out that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a ruthless dictator, it has taken the Turkish foreign policy wizards even longer to see that their childish Iran policy could only cause thunder-like laughter in Tehran.”

Put in Mr. Erdoğan’s heartbroken wording over the weekend: “We cannot comfortably work with Iran. They highlight a sectarian approach too much. I have repeatedly told prominent Iranians: Let’s put aside the Alevi-Sunni [divide]. Before everything, we are Muslims. Let’s view this matter [Syria] like Muslims. When we have bilateral meetings with them, they tell us ‘Let’s resolve this matter together.’ When it comes to taking steps [for a solution], they unfortunately have working methods that are particular to them. This is, of course, very sad.”

Is it really very sad, Mr. President? Are you so awfully shocked? You expected that the Iranians would belly-dance to the Turkish saz, while in fact over the past few years it has been Turkish belly-dancing to the Persian santouri.

The Turks are smart. They finally discovered that the “Iranians highlight a sectarian approach too much.” Sadly, they are not yet smart enough to see that the Iranians are smart enough to see that the Turks, too, highlight a sectarian approach too much and childishly think that the badly unconvincing “let’s-sort-this-out-like-Muslims-would” rhetoric could only cause further loud laughter in Tehran.

It’s the same Turkish malady: Let’s have a (Sunni) Islamic approach to all things Middle Eastern. Unless, of course, we are in trouble and call for reinforcements from the Christian world. It is indeed very sad, Mr. President. Not just that the mullahs in Tehran must be privately laughing at you and refuse to buy your rhetoric, but that you still believe you can cunningly impose a Sunni supremacist worldview in this very complex part of the world.

But fortunately the game of pretension between the neo-Ottomans and neo-Safavids goes on. Just a couple of days ago, Iran’s ambassador to Ankara, Alireza Bigdeli said "There are close personal relations between the leaders of the two countries [Iran and Turkey].” Is that not lovely?

A heartbroken Turk belly-dancing to Persian santouri - BURAK BEKDİL
 
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Biden says he never apologized to Turkey’s Erdoğan

Biden indicated in a speech at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government on Oct. 2 that US allies in the region, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, contributed to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and that Erdoğan, whom he called an old friend, had told him that Turkey had “let too many people through,” even though Turkey is now trying to secure its border.

:rofl::rofl:

terrorists every where :lol:

who knew a bunch of maniacs will take power in our neighboring regimes ? :lol:

isis supporters :lol: please keep the bombings to yourselves turkish politicians .....

@Serpentine :O
 
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You wanna start again dude? We all know where this is going, in the end you will wear your pink dress again. :D
nah mate , forum rules it is :)

i will not break em and i have the right to express my ideas cause its a freaking FORUM .

@Hakan : i'm just waiting for another mistake from u bro :)

@Serpentine also knows about what i'm talking about , until i've broken any rule , u have NO right here :)

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but seriously , why does your regime support terrorism ? and do u support their action ?

do u support ISIS and sectarianism ?
 
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this apparently happened in oct 9 , and i didn't know about it :(

Unrest continues in Turkey between Kurds, Islamists over Kobani | Business Standard News

Ankara, Oct 9 (IANS/EFE) Kurdish demonstrations against Turkey's failure to stem the advancement of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in northern Syria continued overnight and at least 23 people died in the unrest, Turkish media reported Thursday.

Turkish authorities extended the curfew o_Oo_Oo_O o_O in the heavily Kurdish southeastern province of Diyarbakir until Friday and the local university was closed until Monday.

Despite the curfews, protests continued in several districts of Diyarbakir and in many other cities across the country.:coffee:

In Istanbul, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of Kurdish demonstrators and many people were wounded, the Milliyet newspaper said in its online edition.

One of those wounded later died.

In the southern city of Adana, a man was stabbed to death during a fight after protesters asked him whether he was a member of the IS.

In Tarsus, a city in the province of Adana, a police vehicle was attacked by unknown assailants and four officers were injured.

In the same city, Islamist anti-Kurdish demonstrators burned the local headquarters of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party.

During the three days of demonstrations, some 170 police officers have been injured in clashes :undecided: with demonstrators.

In many cities, the Turkish army has deployed troops and armoured vehicles in a bid to control the protests.

Turkey's Kurds are demanding that the government go to the aid of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, located on the border with Turkey, which has been besieged by IS for more than three weeks.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned protesters Wednesday that any vandalism would not be tolerated.
===================================

whats happening there ? omg ! :(

@Targon
 
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Biden says he never apologized to Turkey’s Erdoğan

Biden indicated in a speech at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government on Oct. 2 that US allies in the region, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, contributed to the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and that Erdoğan, whom he called an old friend, had told him that Turkey had “let too many people through,” even though Turkey is now trying to secure its border.

:rofl::rofl:

terrorists every where :lol:

who knew a bunch of maniacs will take power in our neighboring regimes ? :lol:

isis supporters :lol: please keep the bombings to yourselves turkish politicians .....

@Serpentine :O
this apparently happened in oct 9 , and i didn't know about it :(

Unrest continues in Turkey between Kurds, Islamists over Kobani | Business Standard News

Ankara, Oct 9 (IANS/EFE) Kurdish demonstrations against Turkey's failure to stem the advancement of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in northern Syria continued overnight and at least 23 people died in the unrest, Turkish media reported Thursday.

Turkish authorities extended the curfew o_Oo_Oo_O o_O in the heavily Kurdish southeastern province of Diyarbakir until Friday and the local university was closed until Monday.

Despite the curfews, protests continued in several districts of Diyarbakir and in many other cities across the country.:coffee:

In Istanbul, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of Kurdish demonstrators and many people were wounded, the Milliyet newspaper said in its online edition.

One of those wounded later died.

In the southern city of Adana, a man was stabbed to death during a fight after protesters asked him whether he was a member of the IS.

In Tarsus, a city in the province of Adana, a police vehicle was attacked by unknown assailants and four officers were injured.

In the same city, Islamist anti-Kurdish demonstrators burned the local headquarters of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party.

During the three days of demonstrations, some 170 police officers have been injured in clashes :undecided: with demonstrators.

In many cities, the Turkish army has deployed troops and armoured vehicles in a bid to control the protests.

Turkey's Kurds are demanding that the government go to the aid of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, located on the border with Turkey, which has been besieged by IS for more than three weeks.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned protesters Wednesday that any vandalism would not be tolerated.
===================================

whats happening there ? omg ! :(

@Targon
Wow two of the most desperate posts i have read so far:lol::lol::lol:
Come on u support Assad who drops barrel and chlorine bombs indiscriminately on his people and yet its all Turkeys fault :lol::lol::lol:
 
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TURKISH AND AZERI ACADEMICS SEEK TO BOOST TIES
  • Ali Ünal
  • Published : 05.11.2014 16:42:15
7804e48a70693ed8c9142d35bfc3badc.jpg

BAKU — "We aim to strengthen Azerbaijani-Turkish relations in various fields, which are already strong," Dr. Farhad Memmedov said at a press conference, while evaluating the results of an event, ''Days of Turkey in Azerbaijan,'' jointly organized by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Center for Strategic Studies (SAM) and the Azerbaijan Presidency Strategic Studies Center (AzerSAM) on Nov. 5 in Baku. "It is gratifying for me to say that bilateral cooperation with Turkey has reached a certain point and we would like to expand this cooperation level to trilateral cooperation by adding countries in our region," he added. AzerSAM Chairman Memmedov also underlined the importance in expanding cooperation with countries in the region to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus.

SAM chairman, Professor Ali Resul Usul, on the other hand, described the motto "One nation, two states," as their main vision for bilateral relations and said, "Azerbaijan's border is the border of Turkey, Turkey's borders is Azerbaijan's border," to indicate the solid relationship between the two countries. Usul also underlined that from now on they should focus on activities to improve synchronization between the two countries.

Answering a question regarding Turkey-Armenia relations, Usul stressed that it is not possible to open the Turkish-Armenian border and normalize relations as long as Armenia continues to occupy Azerbaijani lands, which has continued for more than 25 years. "This problem must be solved in a fair manner, and Armenia's withdrawal from the occupied Azeri territories is the only way to do that. Turkey supports the concluding of political negotiations, but the solution must be fair, Usul added.

Activities for ''Days of Turkey in Azerbaijan'' were jointly organized by SAM and AzerSAM and took place Nov. 3-5. As a part of the event, a group of Turkish academics along with their Azerbaijani colleagues paid a visit to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan and then moved on to two other cities, Qebele and Aghdam.

Participating in panel discussions titled "Political Security Dimensions of Azerbaijan-Turkey relations" and "Azerbaijan-Turkey economic relations and economic future of the region," academicians from both countries debated issues that are of importance in boosting bilateral relations. A day after the panel discussions in Baku, a round table meeting co-moderated by Usul and Memmedov took place in Qebele.

''Days of Turkey in Azerbaijan'' came after "Days of Azerbaijan in Turkey," which was held last year and a series of academic events took place in the provinces of Edirne, Yalova, Bursa, Bandırma and Ankara on Nov. 18-20, 2013.

Turkey and Azerbaijan have a close relationship in various fields, and since the early 1990s, the relationship between the two countries has been described as "one nation, two states." As in the previous event, this years' jointly organized event aimed to help the countries to better understand each other and enhance current cooperation areas.
Turkish and Azeri academics seek to boost ties | Politics | Daily Sabah

Wow two of the most desperate posts i have read so far:lol::lol::lol:
Come on u support Assad who drops barrel and chlorine bombs indiscriminately on his people and yet its all Turkeys fault :lol::lol::lol:
It is not something to laugh about bro. From recent news, today actually:
ASSAD REGIME DROPS MORTAR ON SCHOOL IN DAMASCUS, 13 CHILDREN DEAD
  • AFP
  • Updated : 05.11.2014 17:51:41
  • Published : 05.11.2014 14:29:43
247a1b413faa00f3a2493adb01b24c83.jpg

BEIRUT — Shelling of a rebel-held area in the northeast of the Syrian capital killed 13 children Wednesday, a monitor said revising an earlier toll, with activists saying a school had been hit.

"The number of children... killed by mortar fire on areas of Qabun district has risen to 13," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, adding: "The toll might rise because several others were critically injured."

Activists blamed forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad for the killings, which they described as a "massacre of children".

The Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists across the war-torn country, said the shelling hit a school, and an activist group in the neighbourhood shared a grisly video of the aftermath.

The footage posted on the group's Facebook page showed the bodies of at least nine children lying on a white tiled floor, some of them surrounded by smears of blood.

Rebels and the army reached a truce in Qabun earlier this year, but activists say there have been frequent violations.

Nearly 190,000 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising against Assad's rule erupted in March 2011.
Assad regime drops mortar on school in Damascus, 13 children dead | MidEast | Daily Sabah
 
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Nearly 190,000 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising against Assad's rule erupted in March 2011.
I really would like to know how many of them have been killed by goverment forces and how many by insurgents.
 
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@haman10

Joe Biden says that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist organization. I wonder if you are accepting bidens statement regarding that or are you just going to cherry pick statements when they suit you?

In an interview with members of the Jewish media in September 2008, Biden stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist organization and that the Bush administration already had the power to designate it as one. He stated that he voted against the measure out of concern that the Bush administration would misuse the measure to justify a military attack against Iran.[82]

Political positions of Joe Biden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
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I wonder if you are accepting bidens statement regarding that or are you just going to cherry pick statements when they suit you?
Why are you asking in the first place? We all know the answer.
 
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Joe Biden says that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist organization. I wonder if you are accepting bidens statement regarding that or are you just going to cherry pick statements when they suit you?
IRGC is their enemy , we call them terrorists too ... Tit for tat .

but he is buddies with u guys , u know :lol: ouch , that gotta hurt :(

for ex. they call russians supporter of terrorism , which is hilarious . mean while sometimes they poke saudia too .

now the second one is gotta be hurtful :(

Come on u support Assad who drops barrel and chlorine bombs indiscriminately on his people and yet its all Turkeys fault
no such thing , maybe @Syrian Lion can help your brain to figure it out :)

those terrorists hide behind civilians (and the airforce has been unable to verify the existence of 'em ) or else the operation would have been cancelled .

no one in syrian govt. says : ok buddies ! lets go kill some school kids today : the same kids that we pay for their education , their health and their food .

but regarding your help to ISIS , turkey should be ashamed of herself and u guys should put your heads down instead of talking straight to and iranian whose country is at the center of fighting ISIS .

chao
 
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but regarding your help to ISIS , turkey should be ashamed of herself and u guys should put your heads down instead of talking straight to and iranian whose country is at the center of fighting ISIS .
Yeah thats why we are trainin ypg. :disagree:
 
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Yeah thats why we are trainin ypg.
donno about that :lol:

@Al-Kurdi is that true ?

all i know is that unfortunately your regime acts like a hub for ISIS and FSA elements to cross over to kobane .

and i've enough links to various credible sources to prove it :)

P.S : keep the conversation civilized everyone
 
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