The Weekly Newspaper of Foreign Policy and International Relations Club

Volume 6, Issue 10

THIS

WEEK

PAGE

EUROPE 2

AMERICAS 3

ARTICLE OF

THE WEEK 4-5

ASIA 6

MIDDLE

EAST &

AFRICA

7

OPINIONS 8-9

TURKEY 10

SOCIAL 11

EDITORIAL 12

27 December 2011

Turkey recalls envoy from France over „genocide‟

bill

The National Assembly in Paris voted by a show of

hands to back the bill by a large majority, and it will go

before the Senate next year. Turkey rejects the term "genocide" to describe the killing of Armenians under

the Ottoman Empire. Many French commentators see

the bill as an attempt by President Nicolas Sarkozy to

win the support of ethnic Armenians in next year's

presidential elections. At least one Turkish paper sug-

gests that the bill is yet another attempt to hamper Tur-key's EU ambitions, while several commentators warn of

serious consequences for Turkish-French relations. The

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said

that the French parliament has opened up wounds that will be difficult to heal. For now, Turkey is can-

celling all economic, political and military meetings between the two countries. Continues on page 10

The Turkish ambassador to France has been recalled in protest at a bill making it illegal to deny

the mass killing of Armenians was genocide.

North Korea's Kim "blocked the howling wind of history"

Kim, who ruled isolated and im-

poverished North Korea from

1994 until his death, was born on a sacred mountain, the moment

foretold by a swallow and her-

alded by a double rainbow, ac-

cording to the official narrative.

Of his death, the official KCNA

news agency said: "In the morn-ing of December 17 when he was

on the train to make a journey of

field guidance for the people the

temperature was 4-7 degrees centigrade lower than the average, scoring the

lowest this winter." North Koreans poured into the streets on Monday to mourn the death of leader Kim Jong-il and state media hailed his untested

son as the "Great Successor" of the reclusive state whose atomic weapons

ambitions are a major threat to the region. Continues on page 6

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il "blocked the howling wind of his-

tory" in life and died at a time of abnormally cold weather and stormy

seas, state media reported on Thursday.

EUROPE

Italian senate protest fails to prevent austerity package vote

Diplomats agree to increase pressure on Iran

The cabinet of newly

elected Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is

sworn in and has officially

taken office. Deutsche

Welle/ December 21,

2011

The ECB will intervene to

stem liquidity crises that

affect the stability of

European banks and to maintain medium-term

price stability, but large-

scale bond buying remains

"well beyond" its role as

lender of last resort,

governing council member Christian Noyer said.

Reuters/ December 19,

2011

H u n g a r i a n P r i m e

M i n i s t e r V i k t o r Orban rejected European

Commission President Jose

Manuel Barroso‘s request

to withdraw two bills the

trading bloc and the IMF

cited for breaking off talks

on a financing package. Bloomberg/ December 22, 2011

PAGE 2

The diplomats from the so-called "group of like-minded nations" met in

Rome to discuss further sanctions against Iran, which could include a pos-

sible EU oil embargo. "The participants repeated the need for Iran to con-form to resolutions of the United Nations and the IAEA (the U.N. Interna-

tional Atomic Energy Agency), and asked the country to satisfy demands by

the international community for timely and immediate clarifications on its

nuclear program," the source said. "The participants expressed a strong

determination to continue to work together to reinforce pressure on Iran to

re-start negotiations," he added, giving no further detail. Iran faces tighten-ing sanctions over a nuclear program it says is for peaceful power genera-

tion, but which its foes suspect is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.

Reuters/ December 20, 2011

Seized vessel in Finland lacked permission to transport missiles

"One needs permission from Finland's Ministry of Defence to travel to or

through Finland with military equipment," Timo Virtanen, detective chief

superintendent at the National Bureau of Investigation, said. "This vessel lacked necessary paperwork, which is a violation against Finland's law on

export of military goods and can potentially give up to four years of impris-

onment," he added. Earlier, a German defence ministry spokesman con-

firmed that the shipment of missiles are from German military stockpiles

and were en route to South Korea. The spokesperson said the missiles were

sold legally with all requisite legal and customs documentation. The Wall Street Journal/ December 23, 2011

Diplomats from the United States, the European Union and other allies

agreed on Tuesday to step up pressure on Iran to force it to resume

talks over its nuclear program, an Italian diplomatic source said.

“A government of thieves” read a banner as Italian opposition senators

tried to disrupt proceedings in the upper house.

Italy's Senate passed a vote of confidence in the government of Prime Minis-

ter Mario Monti on Thursday that put the final seal on an emergency aus-

terity budget rushed through to restore market confidence in the euro zone's third biggest economy. The upper house voted 257 to 41 for the gov-

ernment, following a similar easy win in the lower house last week. Monti,

said he was happy with the vote and Italy could hold its head high in

Europe after passing the package of spending cuts, tax rises and pension

reform. The budget is intended to reverse a collapse of market confidence

which has pushed Italy's borrowing costs to untenable levels and put it at the heart of Europe's debt crisis. Addressing the Senate before the vote,

Monti said his technocrat government had to push through the budget as

fast as possible. The noisy protest was triggered by the country‘s new tech-

nocrat government calling for a final vote of confidence on its austerity

measures. Euronews/ December 12, 2011

In Finland two Ukrainian citizens were detained, after customs officials found 69 Patriot surface-to-air missiles and some 160 tons of explosives aboard Danish-owned MS Thor Liberty, sent from Ger-many and bound for South Korea.

The report estimates that growth in the region will drop to 3.7 per cent in 2012, compared to 4.3 per cent

this year. Although growth had already slowed down from 5.9 per cent in 2010, the report states that most of the region showed ―a positive performance thanks to a favorable ex-

ternal situation.‖ However, an increase in volatility and uncertainty during

the second half of the year significantly complicated the global economic en-

vironment. In particular, the report, which was produced by the UN Eco-

nomic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), points to the current state of the Euro as a key factor that could contribute to eco-

nomic uncertainty in the region. ―There is a great possibility of a deep crisis

in the Eurozone, which would significantly affect the global economy overall

and would impact our region primarily through the real channel – exports,

prices, foreign investment, remittances and tourism – and the financial

channel, greater volatility, possible capital outflows and difficulties in ac-cessing credit,‖ said Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of ECLAC, while

presenting the report. UN News Centre/ December 21, 2011

A South American trading bloc is to ban boats with a Falkland Islands flag

f r om dock ing a t i t s po r t s . Mer cosur , wh i ch in -cludes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, reached the decision at a

summit in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. The dispute involves a vast

area of potentially mineral-rich South Atlantic waters and has created a

fresh diplomatic headache for Britain, which controls the islands. The Uru-

guayan president, José Mujica, said solidarity among South America's neighbours was key to his country's foreign policy. The Mercosur decision is

the latest in a series by Latin American regional bodies designed to show

solidarity with Argentina, which calls the islands Las Malvinas. Roger

Spink, the president of the Falklands Chamber of Commerce, said they were

a small community and felt increasingly under blockade. The Guardian/

December 21, 2011

AMERICAS

South American states ban Falkland ships

US admits mistakes over killings of Pakistan troops

A statement said US and Afghan troops acted in self defense, but conceded

there had been a lack of proper co-ordination with Pakistani forces. "Inadequate co-ordination by US and Pakistani military officers operating

through the border co-ordination centre - including our reliance on incor-

rect mapping information shared with the Pakistani liaison officer - resulted

in a misunderstanding about the true location of Pakistani military units‖, it

said. A Pentagon spokesman later expressed "deep regret" over the incident. In retaliation for the killings, Pakistan has closed its border with Afghani-

stan, cutting NATO supply lines. There was no immediate response from

Pakistan to the findings of the US investigation. Pakistan, a vital partner in

the fight against militants in the region, has demanded a formal US apology.

BBC News/ December 22, 2011

The United States says EU

plans for an emissions tax

on airlines must be dealt with by the international

aviation body. BBC News/

December 21, 2011

In Mexico, the police force

in the port city of Veracruz

was dissolved and Mexican

officials sent the navy in to

patrol and also the

Veracruz State government said the decision was part

of an effort to root out

police corruption in the

state‘s largest city. The

New York Times/ December 21, 2011

A federal judge has signed

a default judgment

f i n d i n g I r a n , t h e

Taliban and al-Qaida liable in the Sept. 11 terrorist

a t tacks . Associated

Press/ December 23,

2011

PAGE 3

Latin American growth predicted to slow down Economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean will slow down next year due to the sluggish

performance of the world economy and uncertainty and volatility of financial markets.

The US military has admitted it bears responsibility for last month's air

strike on the Afghan border that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Latest move by Latin American countries stopping boats from docking

at their ports designed to show solidarity with Argentina.

Last week on Thursday, officials from Islamic Jihad, Hamas and the Palestinian

National Initiative said that they had accepted positions on an "interim leader-ship" of the PLO1. This is the first time since the genesis of the Israeli-Palestinian

conflict that the main political factions of the Palestinian politics agreed on a

common framework to join together their efforts and provide finally the so-long

desired a ‗‘real‘‘ national unity government. Until this time, these main political

factions have done nothing more than accusing each other and had never reached a common agreement between each other. All this was of course in favor

of Israel, which found its path to preserve occupation over Palestinian territories

more and more open, as the political factions in Palestine were in conflict with

each other. Anyway, times have change. A wind of change is blowing over Pales-

tine after so many years of war, terror, accusations, disagreements and suffering of Palestinian people.

What is actually the background behind this dramatic change of attitudes of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and PNI? Did something inside Palestine change that prompted the leaders of these parties to join the PLO,

the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people by the United Nations ?

I argue that the roots of this historical shift in Palestinian politics trace back 2 years ago when the Prime

Minister of PNA, Palestinian National Authority, Salam Fayyad came out with a project called "Palestine — Ending the Occupation, Establishing the State", in which he detailed a two year working

plan for reinforcing the institutions of the future Palestinian State. In this plan he advocates the 2-states

solution and a Palestinian government in which all factions would be represented. It is absolutely the

first project of these dimensions a Palestinian leader presents. In the past there have only been words but

no one was able to undertake such an important step. This is exactly the importance of this working

plan.

From the other hand, it is interesting to mention the fact that when Salam Fayyad launched his plan on

August 2009, he also mentioned that we have to wait 2 years for the plan to bear its first fruits. Here we

are, 2 years later exactly and last week in 22 December 2011, the leaders of Hamas, PNI and Islamic Ji-

had reached a common framework with the PLO for an ‗‘interim leadership‘‘.

I am not underestimating other important domestic political contexts which may stay behind this deci-sion. I just want to argue that Fayyad‘s plan certainly provided the Palestinian politics with the common

background it had lacked for so many years. For this reason, I think it is worthy going inside this plan

and see what Fayyad ‗‘prescribes in his recipe‘‘ which, as I mentioned above, is constructing the common

framework of Palestinian politics.

Firstly, Salam Fayyad has a vital role in the effort to reach a 2 state solution. For the past years he has

been building the foundations of a Palestinian state on the West Bank. With US and EU support, he rein-

forced the security forces and violence is down. He has attracted foreign investors, resurrected the econ-

omy. It grew by an estimated 9 % in the first half of 2010.2 He has ruled Palestinians to direct negotia-

tions but many believe the grown-up effort is the best thing going these days. In other words, what I am

trying to point out is the fact that what makes Fayyad‘s approach different is that he is of the first to have understood that the starting point of each effort for the resolution of conflict is to build a viable Palestin-

ian state. A viable Palestinian state for Fayyad means a state which has built its institutions firmly, has

the required infrastructure for a sustainable economic growth in the future.

However, just understanding these needs is not enough. These needs must also be implemented. This is exactly Fayyad‘s aim when he introduced his working plan on August 2009. This is the peculiarity of Fay-

yad‘s approach: he transformed the efforts for the resolution of the conflict from a theoretical to a prag-

matic context. Because Fayyad is the one of the less Palestinian figures to have understood that Israeli-

Palestinian conflict is an on the ground reality problem. If Israel is not sure of its security, if it is not sure

that any Palestinian state will be properly governed, well governed, they will not allow a Palestinian

state, they‘ll no allow what happened in Gaza, happen in West Bank. And that‘s why Salam Fayyad‘s programme of change in Palestine is so important. Because what Israel says is that ordinary Palestinians

want security, they want the rule of law, they want proper governance. So, leaving aside what Israel

wants, what the Prime Minister and President of Palestine should want also is proper governance for

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

PAGE 4

Salam Fayyad‟s working plan: Unity around PLO

and a reorientation of Palestinian politics

Palestinians. How all these can be achieved? The answer is clearly pointed out by Fayyad in his working

plan.

Secondly, the other main point of Fayyad‘s plan is the link that he places between statehood building

trek and the political trek, intended mainly to bring an end to the Israeli occupation. His perception was

and continues to be that these two treks really have to go hand to hand, have to be mutually reinforcing. Statehood building trek has to complement the political one. This is the path to be followed according to

Fayyad, a path that will bring the long-desired Palestinian independence. However, Fayyad rightly per-

ceives that this will not be the end of the story. One other important condition must hold for the final

outcome. He asserts that the real issue is not whether there is movement towards in their plan but rather

Israel‘s continuing violation of international law. In other words, the task of ending the occupation must

become the responsibility of the international community, and not subject to Israeli approval or disap-proval.3 This is the extremely important condition for Fayyad.

The reason why this is so important globally is the approach, the stance it takes toward the resolution of

a conflict which has been a continuous burden to the harmonious functioning of the international rela-

tions between states. Salam Fayyad‘s proposed solution on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is the most exciting new idea in Arab governance ever, as Thomas Friedman asserts.4

In addition to the congruence between statehood building and political treks, Fayyad makes an appeal to

end the differences and the division that exist between Fatah and Hamas. He is in the opinion that there

can not be a Palestinian state if the division between PA and Hamas is not put to an end.5 Actually, I think Fayyad would be so happy when he received the news for the agreement on the ‗‘interim leader-

ship‘‘. Fayyad‘s peculiarity comes again to the fore when he elaborates on this point by claiming that

having security doctrine defined clearly is essential. This security doctrine must be getting violence out of

the equation. He doesn‘t want to belittle the differences between PA and Hamas but the first emphasis

must be on security.

When he launched his working plan on August 2009, Fayyad expected or was hoping that the project

would deliver his ultimate results by the the end of 2011. The time for this initial expectation has lapsed

and the positive effects on the institutional and economic level inside West Bank are already obvious.

Most importantly, the ‗‘real‘‘ national unity leadership, what was one of Fayyad‘s preconditions in the plan, is under formation.

The bulk of what Fayyad‘s plan originally aimed is already done. How this success will help to bring the

success in the other realm, political one, which means ending Israeli occupation, has to be seen. What is important is that Salam Fayyad has laid the basis for a future independent Palestinian state. His part is

completed. Now the turn comes to the 2 other important actors; international community and Israel. How

much will these actors allow his plan to succeed is the question of the future.

İdlir LİKA

References:

1.Ma’an News Agency, 22 December 2011

2.Erlanger, S. (2007, August 25) An Economist‘s Task: Building a Model for His People. Retrieved De-

cember 20, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/25/world/middleeast/25fayyad.html?

ref=salamfayyad

3.Thrall, N. (2009, June 13) Our Man in Palestie Retrieved December 20, 2010 from http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2010/oct/14/our-man-palestine/?pagination=false

4,5. Sellwood, E. State-building and political change: Options for Palestine 2011, March 2011

ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

PAGE 5

The presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered for a

summit on Monday to discuss the three countries' integration within a common economic space and the Eurasian Economic Community.

ASIA

PAGE 6

North Korea's Kim "blocked the howling wind of history"

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il "blocked the howling wind of his-

tory" in life and died at a time of abnormally cold weather and stormy

seas, state media reported on Thursday.

The Eurasian Economic Community is a post-Soviet economic bloc

intended to promote cooperation both with Europe and the Asia-Pacific

region. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that the summit was intended to adopt "a package of important decisions on the launch of a new

supranational body, the Eurasian Economic Commission, already this year,

and the launch of the Common Economic Space as a whole." Medvedev and

his Belarusian and Kazakh counterparts Alexander Lukashenko and

Nursultan Nazarbayev are expected to approve on Monday a decision on

enforcing agreements from next year on the free movement of goods, capital and workforce within the common economic space between the three

former Soviet republics, make appointments to the Eurasian Economic

Commission and adapt their customs union to Russia's accession to the

World Trade Organization. RIA Novosti/ December 19, 2011

Chen Wei jailed in China for 'subversive' writing

Chinese writer Chen Wei has been sentenced to nine years in jail for

"inciting subversion of state power".

Mr Chen published several essays online calling for

freedom of speech and reform of China's one-party

system. He was among hundreds of dissidents detained earlier this year after online calls for

protests in China inspired by the uprisings in the

Middle East. He told the court he was not guilty and

that "democracy will prevail" in China, say reports.

Mr Chen has always insisted he was simply

expressing his opinions as allowed under the Chinese constitution. The indictment against Mr

Chen listed several essays he wrote for foreign websites on topics including

pieces which criticised the political system in China and praised the growth

of civil society. BBC News/ December 23, 2011

Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh leaders gather for Eurasian economic summit

Five Polish soldiers were

killed in Afghanistan in

what was the single biggest attack on Polish forces

since their deployment in

the country, Polish media

repor ted. Al jazeera/

December 21, 2011

Russian Foreign Minister

Sergei Lavrov and U.S.

Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton in a phone

conversation reiterated shared interest for peace

and stability on Korean

p e n i n s u l a , a U . S .

Department of State

spokeswoman said. RIA

Novo s t i / D e c em ber 21,2011

China, which may have

received advanced notice of

the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, has

moved swiftly to call on the

United States and other

countries to help maintain

stability in the reclusive

state, officials and news reports said. Reuters/

December 21, 2011

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed sympathy on

Monday to North Korea's people after the death of leader Kim Jong-il and said the world body would go on helping them. Secretary of State Hillary

Clinton said Monday the United States hopes North Korea will follow the

"path of peace" after the death of its leader Kim Jong-il and urged the coun-

try to work with the international community and improve relations with its

neighbors. "It is our hope that the new leadership of the DPRK will choose to guide their nation onto the path of peace by honoring North Korea's com-

mitments, improving relations with its neighbors, and respecting the rights

of its people," Clinton said in a statement. Reuters/ December 22, 2011

At least 60 killed in Baghdad attacks

Iranian state television aired what it called a

"confession" by 28-year-old Amir Hekmati over the weekend. His family said Tuesday that he was

arrested in August while visiting his grandmother

and other relatives in Iran, and that his statement

had to have been coerced. "The American spy is

guilty and must be put on trial in Iran," said Kazem Jalali, a spokesman for Parliament's National

Security and Foreign Policy Committee. "American

officials brazenly send spies and spy planes to our

borders and then shamelessly declare that they

must be returned to them," Mehr cites him as saying. "The U.S. request to

free the American spy is politically impudent." CNN/ December 21, 2011

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

Jailed Iranian-American worked on electronic translators,

colleague says

Arab League representatives travel to Syria as violence intensifies

An Arab League committee traveled to Damascus on Thursday to discuss

the logistics of a planned mission to monitor an increasingly violent upris-ing and the response of the Syrian security forces, which has been widely

condemned as disproportionately brutal. Following the imposition of sanc-

tions by the Arab League, the government of President Bashar al-Assad

agreed Monday to implement a plan for hundreds of observers to enter the

country. They are set to report on a situation that activists say is a bloody crackdown on dissent and that Syrian authorities say is a battle against

armed gangs, foreigners and extremists. The committee begins its work af-

ter a surge of violence in the northwest, where opposition groups say hun-

dreds of people have been killed, although they disagree on whether the

casualties were peaceful civilians, armed dissidents or defected soldiers.

The Washington Post/ December 22, 2011

PAGE 7

The Iranian government has blocked access to the

British embassy website for

people in Iran, William

H a g u e s a y s . B B C /

December 22, 2011

Mathieu Ngirumpatse and

Edouard Karemera, who

headed MRND party when

up to 800,000 were

massacred by Hutu extremists in Rwanda,

sentenced for life. Al

Jazeera/ December 21,

2011

Thousands of Palestinians

celebrated the release

Sunday night of 550

inmates from Israeli

prisons, part of the second

phase of the deal that won the freedom of captured

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

CNN/ December 18, 2011

A wave of at least 14 bombings ripped across Baghdad Thursday morning, killing at least 60 people

in the worst violence in Iraq for months.

A wave of at least 14 bombings ripped across Baghdad Thursday morning,

killing at least 60 people in the worst violence in Iraq for months. The

apparently coordinated attacks struck days after the last American forces left the country and in the midst of a major government crisis between

Shiite and Sunni politicians that has sent sectarian tensions soaring. The

bombings may be linked more to the U.S. withdrawal than the political

crisis, but all together, the developments heighten fears of a new round of

Shiite-Sunni sectarian bloodshed like the one a few years back that pushed

Iraq to the brink of civil war. There was no immediate claim of responsibil-ity. But the bombings bore all the hallmarks of al-Qaida's Sunni insur-

gents. Most appeared to hit Shiite neighborhoods, although some Sunni

areas were also targeted. Time/ December 22, 2011

An Arab League committee traveled to Damascus on Thursday.

An Iranian-American ex-Marine accused of spying on his ancestral

homeland helped develop an electronic translator for U.S. troops but

wouldn't have been involved in espionage, a onetime colleague said.

Franco-Turkish diplomatic relations started in the 16th century with the request of king

Francis I‘s mother for the help to rescue his son from the emperor Charles V in the reigns of Suleiman the Magnificent and afterwards, the further diplomatic relations

have come into being with some periodic changes throughout the history. There have

been some important issues between Turkey and France and one of them, Armenian

question, is quite important and a delicate matter, especially for Turkey. Since the early

20th century we have seen strong French support for Armenian nation and they still maintain this backing; however, last week on Thursday the French National Assembly

took the most serious action; a law which accepts a crime for denying that killing of Ar-

menians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 was a genocide, and Turkey has started to give

harsh responses since the declaration of this law. Previously France has already recognized the killings

as ―genocide‖, but after this law Turkish PM has decided to freeze diplomatic and military relations; the

Turkish ambassador to France, Tahsin Burcuoglu was recalled, all joint military exercises was abolished, permission for the French military planes were cancelled; and according to Erdoğan this is just a gradual

start for the strict responses to the French MP‘s decision. Of course after this accepted bill, huge reac-

tions have been coming from Turkey and according to some; Sarkozy tries to guarantee the votes of a

large number of French-Armenian descents for the next elections. Moreover, the other bizarre part in this

story is that normally the French National Assembly is composed of 577 bureaucrats; however, only 50 of them attended the session and with the approval of 38 bureaucrats the law was passed; which means

that less than 10 % of the assembly accepted this law. All in all, France cannot be considered as a good

friend of Turkey and expecting to have good relations with her is nothing short of a false vanity if we take

up all these efforts for claims regarding so-called Armenian genocide in details. Pelin YAVUZ

OPINIONS

PAGE 8

TURKEY

TURKEY

France, Turkey, Armenians and another crisis

over the new „genocide‟ bill

In that respect, Atalay warned the EU against a possible Cyprus Presidency. He con-

tinued with further warnings that Turkey will come to a sudden halt about the EU-

Turkey relations if Cyprus gets the rotating presidency in July 2012. On the other hand, Turkey‘s European Union Minister Egemen Bağış stated that while Turkey will

boycott the Presidency of the European Union, it will continue its cooperation with the

European Commission and the European Parliament. Actually, two statements in-

clude their own differences when they are compared. It seems to me that the latter one

should have the priority over the former so that our relations with the EU Commission

and the EU Parliament will remain intact while, we will not choose to sit across the same table as the term‘s presidency. This is the same strategy that I also favour be-

cause such a half country will naturally create a half-presidency which will lead to a miserable union as

the President Gul believed. Also, this development will lead many hardships between Turkey-EU relations

in terms of opening of new chapters for Turkey‘s accession to EU. In fact, this situation will further enter

the position of Turkey for EU accession into a phase of stalemate. Nevertheless, the option of a total freeze of EU relations should not be taken into consideration due to such an undesired crisis; I mean

that the so called ―Cyprus problem‖ cannot be a concrete concern for Turkey‘s accession aim to the EU

and a milestone about Turkey-EU relations. In that respect, all sides should have the accountability to

provide a calm environment for constructing a real and desired peace through diplomatic ways.

Levent KIZILBAĞLI

Turkey to boycott the Cyprus Presidency by

freezing the ties with the EU! Turkish Deputy Prime Minister for Cyprus affairs Besir Atalay says if the European Union gives

southern Cyprus the rotating EU presidency in 2012, Turkey will freeze relations with the bloc.

Last Thursday the burning question, Armenian Genocide bill passed at the French National Assem-

bly, and as a matter of course the reaction of Turkish authorities has become extremely strong.

OPINIONS

PAGE 9

Blasts rock Baghdad: What is happening in Iraq?

More than 70 people were killed in a series of bombings across Baghdad as Iraq headed towards an

inevitable sectarian conflict within days of the departure of American troops.

It is a known fact that Iraqi population, throughout history, has been composed of

three different sects, namely, the Shias, Sunnis and Kurds. There have always been

sectarian tensions, but the latest bomb attacks are the most severe and lethal in

months and occurred after the US troops completed their withdrawal. No doubt the

end of the US presence and power left Iraq with a security vacuum and instability,

which enabled the extremist groups‘ exploitation. There was no immediate claim re-

garding the responsibility for the attacks, but they seemed similar to others conducted

by the largely homegrown Sunni insurgent group Al Qaeda in Iraq. The most possible

explanation for the attacks has to do with the deepening political crisis that divides

Iraq‘s coalition government under Nouri al-Maliki, the Shia prime minister. Mr Maliki is criticised for in-

flaming sectarian tensions and has turned against Tariq al-Hashemi, the vice-president and Iraq‘s most

senior Sunni politician, accusing him of funding terrorist attack. Many Iraqi Shias will consider the bomb

attacks as the revenge of vice-president. Nevertheless, the vice-president as a soft figure cannot be held

responsible for these terrorist activities, despite the violent nature of Iraqi politics. The latest turmoil in

Iraq is mainly because of the complex political settlement with different sects. With an opportunist and

authoritarian attitude, Mr Maliki is trying to break the controls over his power. Unless Maliki draws

back, this may be immensely dangerous. Although the participation of the Sunnis in the political settle-

ment diminishes violence in the country, this may not be the case, if their leaders are dismissed by

Mailiki. Then, it is likely that violence will come back.

Elvan Eda KARAİSMAİLOĞLU

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

ASIA

Could the change in North Korea bring other

changes? After 17 years of leading one of the world‟s most insular and unpredictable nations, dictator of

North Korea, Kim Jong-Il died, leaving behind a dangerous uncertainty.

In North Korea, after the death of Kim Jong-Il who had been in power until 1994, his

son, Kim Jong-Un, immediately became the head of country; because his father wanted

his youngest son to succeed him. However, that requires the consent of North Korea‘s

powerful military. And now, what will happen? This is the point that the whole world is

interested in. It must be said that North Korea is facing many difficulties such as famine

and economic inefficiencies and also it is exposed to the isolation of western countries

because of the insistent nuclear policies of this country. The US, and Japan declared

that they could change their aggressive policies against the country and they are in fa-

vour of creating peaceful relations with the new leader. Indeed, they are struggling to

gain benefits from this change in North Korea. On the other hand, China, the significant supporter of the

Kim Jong-Il regime is wishing for the maintenance of these ties with the son. Besides, relations with the

―South‖ are another concern, despite South Korea‘s recent explanation emphasizing that South Korea

does not consider any kind of animosity against the ―North‖. Our knowledge about the new head of coun-

try is quite poor; however, most specialists consider that he is apparently just like his father as reported

by the North Korean news agencies but also has a much worse temper. In short, we don't know exactly

how he will behave. Nevertheless, he may try to consolidate his power by doing something impatient

against the South Koreans, Japanese, or even the Americans.

Anıl TOLUNAY

Turkish TV announced the recall of the country's envoy in response to the

bill. Earlier, Turkey's main political parties issued a joint statement con-

demning the bill, saying it "denigrates Turkish history", and there have

been protests outside the French embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

The bill's author, Valerie Boyer from France's ruling conservative UMP

party, said she was "shocked" at Turkey's intervention. "My bill doesn't aim

at any particular country," she said. "It is inspired by European law, which

says that the people who deny the existence of the genocides must be

sanctioned." CNN/ December 22, 2011

TURKEY

Panetta Nudges Turkey to rebuild ties with Israel

“In this time of sweeping change in the region, it’s important for Turkey to

have strong relationships with those who share an interest in regional security and stability, including Israel,” Mr. Panetta said. “I believe that it

is in Turkey’s interest and in Israel’s interest for the two to move forward.”

Turkey has increasingly become a leader of regional outrage over Israel’s

treatment of Palestinians since last year, when Ankara froze ties with Israel

over a commando raid on a vessel that was sailing from Turkey and trying to reach Gaza. Turkey also has shown an emboldened foreign policy in

leading regional capitals to impose tough sanctions on Syria to punish the

government of President Bashar al-Assad for his violent crackdown on pro-

democracy demonstrators. The New York Times/ December 16, 2011

Main opposition Republican

People's Party (CHP) deputy

Sinan Aygün submitted a

draft law today to recognize

the al leged genocide committed by France in

Algeria and Rwanda.

Hürriyet Daily News/

December 20, 2011

PAGE 10

Turkey recalls envoy from France over „genocide‟

bill

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Friday called for Turkey to

rebuild ties with Israel in the interest of security, echoing a call he

issued this month for the government of Israel to reach out to other nations across the Middle East.

The Turkish ambassador to France has been recalled in protest at a

bill making it illegal to deny the mass killing of Armenians was geno-

cide.

Turkey to train Libyan military, NTC's Abdul Jalil says

Mustafa Abdul Jalil, chairman of Libya's National Transitional Council

(NTC), said Libya's new rulers and Turkish authorities agreed to have

Turkey train the Libyan military in Turkey.

Abdul Jalil spoke to Turkey's state-run Anatolia news agency on

Wednesday and commented on his recent visit to Turkey last week as well

as the cooperation between Turkey and the new Libyan administration in the post-Gaddafi era. Noting that he had the chance to visit dozens of

Libyans who were injured in clashes with Gaddafi loyalists and have

received treatment in Turkey, he said he also wishes Turkish Prime

Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who underwent an abdominal surgery last

month, a speedy recovery. “We had the opportunity to discuss some issues

with Prime Minister Erdoğan. We reached a compromise on training the Libyan army in Turkey.

Today’s Zaman/ December 21, 2011

Turkey and Ukraine agreed to abolish visa requirements

between the two countries as

part of their drive to boost

trade volume and

tourism. Today’s Zaman/ December 22, 2011

26 December 2011

Aşk Olsun Sana Çocuk (Play),18:00, Ankara Sanat Tiyatrosu AST

Fiktion Okzident (Art Exhibition), CerModern

Serap Etike – Kadın Halleri (Art Exhibition),

18:00, Ziraat Bankası Kuğulu Art Gallery

27 December 2011

Genç Osman (Play), 20:00, Çayyolu Theatre Cüneyt Gökçer Stage

Figaro (Play), 20:00, Küçük Tiyatro

Fosforlu Cevriye (Play), 20:00, Akün Stage

28 December 2011

AFSAD 2011 Workshop Display, Modern Arts

Center

Hüzzam (Play), 18:30, Oda Tiyatrosu

Tek Kişilik Şehir (Play), 20:00, Şinasi Stage

29 December 2011

MKE Ankaragücü – IBA Kimya TED Kolejliler (Volleyball Match), 19:00, Başkent Sports Hall

Bilkent Symphony Orchestra - New Year‟s Concert (Concert), 20:00, Bilkent Concert Hall

Cem Adrian Acoustic (Concert), 22:00, IF Performance Hall

30 December 2011

Küçük Şeyler -10 (Art Exhibition), Gallery Soyut Çankaya

Kerbela (Play), 20:00, Ankara Opera House

Her Yöne 90 Dk (Play), 20:00, 75. METU KKM

31 December 2011

Türk Telekom – Hacettepe Üniv. (Basketball Match), 16:00, Ankara Sports Hall

2 Mekan 1 Sokak – New Year‟s Party, Crossroads Live, 22:30

What is this…Oxfam

PAGE 11

Oxfam is an international confederation of 15

organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to

find lasting solutions to poverty and relatedinjustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s

actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to

exercise their rights and manage their own lives.

Oxfam works directly with communities and seeks to

influence the powerful to ensure that poor people

can improve their lives and livelihoods and have a say in decisions that affect them. Each organization

(Affiliate) works together internationally to achieve a

greater impact through collective efforts. Oxfam was

originally founded in Oxford, UK, in 1942 as

the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief by a group

of Quakers, social activists, and Oxford academics; this is now Oxfam Great Britain, still based in

Oxford, UK. It was one of several local committees

formed in support of the National Famine Relief

Committee. Their mission was to persuade

the British government to allow food relief through the Allied blockade for the starving citizens of Axis-

occupied Greece. The first overseas Oxfam was

founded in Canada in 1963.

EDITORIAL

GENERAL DIRECTOR

PELİN YAVUZ

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ERMAN AKSÜT

PELİN KÜNEY

CO- EDITOR

SİBEL DÜZ

COORDINATORS

MEHMET YETİM

GİZEM ÖZTEN

TALYA YÜZÜCÜ

ÖZLEM MELİS MUTLU

CORRESPONDENTS

ANIL TOLUNAY

ESİN TURHAN

SERHAT SAKIN

FIRAT OLGUN

YİĞİT AYDOĞ

HANDE KAYMA

MANSUR ALİ GEDİK

FULYA YETİŞ

ECEM BOĞATEMUR

SELÇUK SUNAY

Dear all,

This is our last issue of 2011, I’d like to

wish you a wonderful year! I hope 2012

will bring us whatever we desire. Happy

New Year!

General Director

Dominos Pizza 100. Yıl

36.CAD. NO:23 / B

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