Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during December 2011

Key Points:

• The TSK mistakenly bombs unarmed Kurdish smugglers near the Iraqi border, adding yet another incident that sets back Turkish-Kurdish relations and possibly fueling further violence.
• Military, economic and political ties are severed between France and NATO ally Turkey following the National Assembly’s vote to move an Armenian genocide bill forward.
• Turkey’s Central Bank sells off over $1 billion in dollars to combat rising inflation, though by month’s end the rate had surpassed 10%.
• Azerbaijan and Turkey agree to a new gas transport and supply deal for the Shah Deniz field, upsetting some in Brussels who feel the new pipeline could undermine the time consuming progress for NABUCCO. READ MORE

• January 21, 2012

The African Energy Indaba, which will be held from February 21 to 23 in Johannesburg, has teamed up with Eastern European regional energy forum Foren, said the South African National Energy Association (Sanea) chairperson Brian Statham.

• January 19, 2012

Iran warns its Arab neighbors that in the event of the introduction of sanctions against the country they should not increase oil production. Otherwise, as promised by representatives of the Islamic Republic, the region may expect catastrophic consequences.

• January 19, 2012

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Wednesday said both the European Union and Iran have expressed their readiness to resume talks on the nuclear issue.

• January 19, 2012

Japan pledged on Friday to keep cutting purchases of Iranian crude in the clearest public offer of support yet among Asia's big buyers for U.S. efforts to tighten an international noose around Iran in an escalating dispute over its nuclear ambitions.

• January 19, 2012

Americans view China's competition in telecommunications and fiber optics as worrisome enough that policy-makers regularly consider enacting protectionist legislation. The possibility of China using its investment policies to seize the lead in automobile manufacturing also has Washington reacting vigorously.

• January 19, 2012

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd called on China to consider halting its oil purchases from Iran in deference to efforts by the international community of pressuring Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.

• January 19, 2012

U.S. stock futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Tuesday, as market sentiment strengthened after better-than-expected Chinese growth data and upbeat economic reports in the euro zone.

• January 17, 2012