ISSUE # 16
05/20/2013
On 15 May 2013, the European Commission supported a proposal regarding an association agreement with Ukraine, passing the decision on to the European Council. READ MORE

• May 21, 2013

North Korea on Monday fired more projectiles into the sea off its east coast, South Korean officials said, urging Pyongyang to refrain from "tension-creating acts."

• May 20, 2013

Russia, predicting instability once NATO-led troops withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of next year, is considering deploying border guards on the Tajik-Afghan border, Moscow's envoy to Kabul said.

• May 20, 2013

While other EU countries are increasingly investing in renewables, Turkey is planning three new nuclear power stations. The country's aim is to turn from being a net importer to a net exporter of energy.

• May 20, 2013

Oil imports to Turkey reduced by 21 percent reaching 1 million barrels in March 2013 compared to the previous month, the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority said today.

• May 18, 2013

The top U.S. military officer has denounced Russia for providing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime with anti-ship missiles, saying the weapons will only worsen the Syrian war.

• May 18, 2013

A nuclear-armed Iran would not pose a fundamental threat to the United States and its regional allies like Israel and the Gulf Arab monarchies, according to a new report released on Friday by the Rand Corporation.

• May 18, 2013

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during April 16 th - May 15th 2013
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• Domestic politics heat up as the opposition CHP accuses Prime Minister Erdogan of authoritarianism in seeking the presidency after his term as prime minister is up.
• A judicial reform aimed at clarifying aspects of Turkish terrorism laws aims to placate EU critics and could lead to the release of hundreds of imprisoned activists.
• Turkey continues to avoid direct military intervention into Syria’s civil war, though fears of the sectarian conflict’s spread has the country on edge.
• U.S. sanctions aimed at Iran’s nuclear program necessitate Turkish efforts at diversifying its energy reliance away from Tehran.
• Israel makes overtures to Ankara regarding a natural gas pipeline in the eastern Mediterranean, while TANAP is set for construction to begin following ratification of the agreement by both Turkish and Azerbaijani parliaments.

• May 18, 2013