Apr. 2014. EGF Turkey File (417 Kb)
Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics between 16 April – 15 May 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- Turkey faces up to the worst mining disaster in its history, while the prime minister bungles the official response. A deputy chief of staff for Erdogan is photographed kicking a protester, and accusations are levelled that the prime minister himself struck another.
- Turkey’s top judge, with the prime minister in attendance, rebukes Erdogan in public statements in light of government criticism of the country’s top courts.
- While Turkey’s economic growth relies on substantial imports of Russian energy, the fate of the Crimean Tatars seems to remain outside the Turkish regional agenda.
- Alawites and Alevis, two religious minorities who largely support the opposition CHP, face an increasingly uncertain political future.
- In remarks to an American journalist, Prime Minister Erdogan says the country will pursue extradition of Fethullah Gulen from the U.S.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 22.05.2014
| External Relations
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Armenia's Increasing Dependence on Russia*
By Armen Grigoryan,
EGF Guest Contributor
Armenia’s Russia-imposed self-isolation from the democratic international community continues and threatens to have economic and social consequences for the country. Russia is increasing its pressure in the South Caucasus, raising the specter of regional destabilization. While Russia already controls the most important sectors of Armenia’s economy, it seems set to reinforce its interests in the country so as to ensure that a fully dependent, loyal Armenia can constitute a tool for the projection of Russia’s political and military influence in the region. Russia’s overt attempt to fulfill its expansionist ambitions endangers the sovereignty of its neighbors, as well as regional stability and energy security. READ MORE
* This article was first published by the "Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center" which holds the copyright for it.”
- Armen Grigoryan |
Published on EGF: 13.05.2014
| External Relations
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Apr. 2014. EGF Gazprom Monitor (528 Kb)
A Snapshot of Key Developments in the External Relations of the Russian Gas Sector
By Jack Sharples, EGF Associate Researcher on the external dimensions of Russian gas and Lecturer in Energy Politics
at the European University of St Petersburg
Key points:
- Special report on Ukraine: Naftogaz, Gazprom, debts and prices: the saga continues
- In a bid to limit its dependence on Russian gas, Naftogaz seeks alternative supplies from Europe
- South Stream divides EU as OMV (Austria) breaks ranks to sign deal
- EU continues formulating ‘statement of objections’ in antitrust probe as Gazprom and EU representatives
confirm interest in retaining mutually beneficial energy relations
- Russian government seeks talks with EU over energy legislation in possible first step towards WTO arbitration
- Gazprom claims progress in talks with CNPC, expects contract to be signed in May
- Gazprom reports 2013 financial results in accordance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS)
- Gazprom and Turkey consider expansion of Blue Stream from 16 bcm to 19 bc
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 13.05.2014
| External Relations
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Anti-terror operation under way in Ukraine's east (2 Mb)
Issue # 16
05/05/2014
Pro-Russian insurgents have shot down two Ukrainian helicopters in the
eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk and hit another one. There are victims. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 07.05.2014
| External Relations
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Armed conflict continues in eastern Ukraine (2 Mb)
Issue # 14
04/21/2014
Over the last week, pro-Russian activists in the east of Ukraine continued
armed seizures of buildings. In particular, the separatists stormed and seized
the city police department in Horlivka (Donetsk Region), with several injured
reported. The protesters put up a Russian flag on the building. READ MORE
- Gorshenin Weekly |
Published on EGF: 01.05.2014
| External Relations
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Mar.15 2014. EGF Turkey File (94 Kb)
Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 16th- - April 15th 2014
By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst
Key Points:
- The AKP emerges victorious in the country’s municipal elections, capturing nearly 43 percent of all votes.
- Opposition parties fare better than in previous contests, but their split gives the AKP the upper hand at the
ballot box.
- His party’s success means that Prime Minister Tayip Erdogan will likely run for the presidency in August’s first
ever election by popular vote.
- Erdogan’s government blocks social media sites, referring to critics as “enemies” and further degrading
political discourse in the Republic.
- Recordings of high-level military and political meetings continue to leak to the public, and are used by the
AKP as justification to push for bans of many social media platforms.
- The presence of hundreds of thousands of mainly Sunni Syrian refugees in southern Turkey continues to
concern Turkey’s Alevi communities.
- The situation in Syria remains static, but a large-scale military escalation has the potential to severely
destabilize Turkey’s southern provinces.
READ MORE
- EGF Editorial |
Published on EGF: 18.04.2014
| External Relations
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