GÜVEN SAK

No UNRWA, no Nakba GÜVEN SAK

No UNRWA, no Nakba?

The Trump administration has decided to cut all U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This is the second such step after the contentious decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. UNRWA was created in 1949 to resettle the 700,000 Palestinians who had been displaced to establish an independent state of Israel. Palestinians see May 15, 1948, when modern Israel was founded, as “Nakba,” the day of catastrophe. Does that mean that when there is no UNRWA, there is no Nakba at all? Is the issue of Palestinian refugees and the return to their homeland now eternally off the table? I don’t think so.

September 07 2018
Turkey is no Egypt GÜVEN SAK

Turkey is no Egypt

Just before Turkey’s holiday week, the Emir of Qatar was in Ankara for a short visit. The news eagerly reported that at the hour of Turkey’s need, the Emir pledged to invest $15 billion into the Turkish economy. Turkey’s international investors might have been happy to hear this, but I am deeply saddened that it has come to this. It gives the impression that Turkey is like Egypt, a country that is frivolous with its money and, then travels around the neighborhood, hat in hand. But why Turkey now?

August 24 2018
With a friend like Trump, who needs enemies GÜVEN SAK

With a friend like Trump, who needs enemies?

There are two types of countries in the world: Countries that have current account surpluses and countries that have current account deficits. The former lend money to the latter.

August 17 2018
Turkey is part of Europe GÜVEN SAK

Turkey is part of Europe

What surprised me most this week was not the depreciation of the Turkish lira against the US dollar. That was to be expected. What surprised me was the simultaneous depreciation of the Euro against the US dollar. The Euro-USD rate was at 1.16 on Thursday, and declined to 1.14 on Friday. Why did this happen?

August 10 2018
Eat that frog now GÜVEN SAK

Eat that frog now

Mark Twain once said “if it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.” Why? Because then you can go through the day knowing that the worst thing that can possibly happen to you has already happened.

August 03 2018
Something wicked this way comes GÜVEN SAK

Something wicked this way comes

Remember Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth by William Shakespeare? That’s where the witches gather around a smoky black cauldron. “By the pricking of my thumbs/something wicked this way comes,” says one. That’s how I feel these days in Ankara. Though we tend not to “open locks, whoever knocks.” We all know that Turkey needs to be ready for what is coming. This week has been about that anticipation.

July 27 2018
Desperately looking for positive signs GÜVEN SAK

Desperately looking for positive signs

“Tell me something positive,” said a western friend entering my office, “so that I may tell it to my superiors, for them to make a more informed decision about Turkey.” I have to confess that it is not getting any easier. Our friends in western capitals are now desperately looking for some positive signs. Why? Just have a look at the events.

July 20 2018
The Indian moment in Turkish democracy GÜVEN SAK

The Indian moment in Turkish democracy

This Sunday, voting stations across Turkey will set up two ballot boxes: One to choose the president, the chief of the executive, and another to choose parliamentarians who make up the legislature. Under the new system, a president does not need parliament to form his government, as parliament does not need the president to legislate.

June 22 2018
What the recent protests in Jordan mean GÜVEN SAK

What the recent protests in Jordan mean

Recently, there were nationwide protests in Jordan. People were out on the streets against plans for a new law to broaden the tax base, as well as high oil prices. The result? As of June 5, Jordan has a new government. Hani Mulki has gone and Omar Razzaz has come as the new prime minister. This is Jordan’s sixth government since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, which started in March 2011, mind you. Six governments in eight years. I think that is telling. Let me elaborate.

June 15 2018