Epstein Secrets

t Matter Reuel Marc Gerecht April 30, 2012 -- Since we don't know what Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said at the recent confab in Istanbul, we can't be sure that Israeli prime minister Bibi Netanyahu was right to dismiss the powwow as a "freebie" for Tehran. Also, the Islamic Republic

o so against Israel, something they called "a violation of NATO's values." Criticism from Davutoglu EFTA00660180 In response to such statements, Davutoglu harshly criticized his counterparts sitting around the same large table. "You are talking about being partners and partnership values. But partners

es of the Mediterranean Dialogue if Turkey continues to do so against Israel, something they called "a violation of NATO's values." Criticism from Davutoglu EFTA00660180 In response to such statements, Davutoglu harshly criticized his counterparts sitting around the same large table. "You are talking

onflicts with neighbors but also to offer its good offices to mediate conflict to which it is not a party. Its credibility has become so great that Istanbul has replaced European capitals as the preferred venue for conflict resolution whether in relation to Afghanistan or even Iran. It is notable that d

Armenians in Turkey a crime. Troubles to be sure, but should these be interpreted as "failures," and more precisely as "Turkish failures"? Perhaps, Davutoglu was insufficiently cautious, or alternatively too optimistic, when he articulated the zero problems diplomacy, but was it not an accurate way of si

sociated with Ottoman rule over much of the Arab world. It should be recalled that Turkish foreign policy began charting a new course years before Davutoglu became foreign minister. In an important sense, the turning point came in 2003 when the Turkish government refused to allow the United States to us

omic Forum in Davos is a case in point. Erdogan accused Peres of "knowing well how to kill," and then stormed off the stage and boarded a plane to Istanbul. He returned to a hero's welcome. The highly publicized spat earned the AKP a badly needed boost ahead of local elections in March 2009. Erdogan's

he campaign trail, the AKP's senior members have consistently championed the party's foreign outlook. At a speech in April, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, "Our ideal is to make this country a pioneer in the world, like our predecessors who carried out their goal of order for the whole world." Er

join the European Union.In late May, on the eve of the coming elections and just before the first anniversary of the storming of the Mavi Marmara, Davutoglu dismissed pleas by the United Nations and others to prevent a new flotilla from departing for Gaza. (Fifteen ships, including the Mavi Marmara, are

nflicts with neighbors but also to offer its good offices to mediate conflict to which it is not a party. Its credibility has become so great that Istanbul has replaced European capitals as the preferred venue for conflict resolution whether in relation to Afghanistan or even Iran. It is notable that d

accurate way of signaling a new dawn for Turkey's approach to neighbors, especially its Arab neighbors, and actually, to the world as a whole. And Davutoglu followed through with a dizzying series of initiatives, conceiving of the neighborhood in a broad sense and managing to banish many of the bad mem

Europe and North America in recent months have delighted in citing with a literary smirk "zero problems with neighbors," the centerpiece of Ahmet Davutoglu's foreign policy agenda since he became foreign minister on May 1, 2009, having previously served as chief advisor to both the prime minister and f

ks have been a roller coaster of speculation, with hopes rising and falling as each side plays out the game of expectations. The opening meeting in Istanbul, in April, produced a surge of optimism, which plunged to foreboding after the meeting in Baghdad last month. Some have predicted that the talks m

c fragmentation. Not surprisingly, this theme of a pan-Muslim community, and the reclaiming of the Sunni sphere, is increasingly heard today. [10] Davutoglu did not mention the word umma ; or community of believers, but many now are. And it is a discourse that greatly frightens the many in the region ,

m in office this June by a larger-than-ever majority, Erdogan portrayed himself as a neo-Ottoman savior. "Believe me, Sarajevo won today as much as Istanbul, Beirut won as much as Izmir, Damascus won as much as Ankara!" he told cheering crowds at a victory speech in the capital. "The West Bank and Jerus

ts have bombed separatist Kurdish guerrillas in the mountains of northern Iraq, killing an estimated 160 people, according to the Turkish military. Davutoglu has begun publicly calling for Syria's embattled dictator, Bashar al- Assad, to step down. And during a planned visit to Egypt this week, EFTA00586