Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during October 16-31st 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• Turkey slowly changes tactics in Syria, pulling back support for Islamist fighters who have begun to turn on other opposition forces in the Free Syrian Army and Kurdish militias.
• The Syrian offshoot of the PKK, the PYD, continues to push back groups like Jabhat al Nusra and Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham. Its leader has called on Turkey to halt its complicity in helping these groups.
• A ceasefire continues to hold between the PKK and Turkish Security Forces, but time is running out for the government to offer substantive next steps at reconciliation. Complicating Turkey’s relations with its own Kurdish minority is the multiple breaks between Kurdish leaders throughout the region.
• Europe and Asia are now connected by rail via the Marmaray Tunnel, though the long term financial sustainability of the economy could be harmed by such projects. Turkey’s economy has slowed considerably, and with the U.S. Federal Reserve set to raise interest rates in 2014, financing the growing budget deficit could be a problem.

• November 8, 2013

Iran and six world powers are making progress in talks aimed at ending a decade-long nuclear stand-off between Tehran and the West, but the discussions are "tough", Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday.

• November 7, 2013

U.N. diplomats struggled on Wednesday to revive stalled peace talks on Cyprus, where an ethnic division dating back four decades is dogging Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

• November 7, 2013

Iran and six world powers are making progress in talks aimed at ending a decade-long nuclear stand-off between Tehran and the West, but the discussions are "tough", Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday.

• November 7, 2013

European concerns about alleged electronic eavesdropping by U.S. intelligence should not be allowed to cloud trade talks next week between the United States and the European Union, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

• November 5, 2013

Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met U.S. and Russian officials on Tuesday to discuss convening long-delayed Syrian peace talks this year despite disputes over President Bashar al-Assad's future and whether his ally Iran can attend.

• November 5, 2013

Ukraine signed a $10 billion shale gas production-sharing agreement with U.S. Chevron (CVX.N) on Tuesday, another step in a drive for more energy independence from Russia.

• November 5, 2013

With ties between Washington and many close allies strained because of eavesdropping revelations and differences over U.S. policies in the Middle East, the Obama administration can take some comfort from an improvement in ties with China.

• November 4, 2013