YUSUF KANLI

The Syrian debacle, US and Turkey YUSUF KANLI

The Syrian debacle, US and Turkey

It is of no use to discuss at this particular moment whether or not Turkey’s “Operation Peace Spring” was a success or not, or whether the visit of the high-powered American team headed by the vice president and the ensuing deal with the United States would indeed serve Turkey’s strategic interests at the end of the day. The “silence of guns” or “diplomacy given a chance” should not be considered as mere slogans, but must mean something tangible on the ground.

October 21 2019
Time to be realistic in Syria policy YUSUF KANLI

Time to be realistic in Syria policy

Right from the beginning, many people warned that Syria was no Iraq, Yemen or Libya. After 10 years of war of attrition that exhausted the resources of the Arab country, the Baathist regime is consolidating itself once again. Who the winner of this war is something that can be discussed without a result for hours. But the loser is clear: The people of Syria. Turkey, on the other hand, has suffered by hosting over 3.6 million refugees and shouldering a big financial burden, by doing so as well as spending on its security.

October 16 2019
From Syria to Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

From Syria to Cyprus

The “Operation Peace Spring” that Turkey launched in northern Syria against the PYD and its armed wing, the YPG, that Turkey and many countries recognize as the Syrian wing of the PKK separatist terrorist gang, produced a new controversy between the Turkish Cypriot presidency and Ankara.

October 14 2019
PYD offensive or taking over ISIL YUSUF KANLI

PYD offensive or taking over ISIL?

Turkey started flashing signals that it might soon enter northern Syria. Particularly after reports that the American military has left the region, Turkey is expected to start the operation “from land and air” and mobilize the military elements in the region, yet ambiguity continues on where is the “red line,” which the Turkish and American presidents agreed on during their last telephone conversation.

October 09 2019
Trilateral in Paris YUSUF KANLI

Trilateral in Paris

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invited the Turkish and Greek Cypriot presidents in letters sent last Friday to a trilateral summit in Paris in November. According to initial reports, the two leaders have tentatively agreed to attend. Again, according to sources with insight on Cyprus diplomacy, with the participation of Turkey, Greece and Britain, the three guarantor powers, Guterres has suggested holding an “unofficial” +5U.N. conference at some time in December to help outline and finalize reference points for the resumption of talks and an outline for a future federal resolution.

October 07 2019
Cyprus talks… Failed again… YUSUF KANLI

Cyprus talks… Failed again…

Is it possible to walk the same road but reach a different destination? What an awkward question for anyone with some brains. But apparently there are many people who believe that after attempting to reach a federal solution on Cyprus through talks with the same methodology and framework, there might be still a chance of striking a deal. What a great capacity of imagination?

October 02 2019
New residence regulation in North Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

New residence regulation in North Cyprus

North Cyprus is discussing a new residence regulation. There are differing positions on the issue.

September 30 2019
Does Turkey need judiciary reform YUSUF KANLI

Does Turkey need judiciary reform?

It is nonsense to be a committed supporter or die-hard opponent of any governance model, but it is an experimented result that even if some people might not wish to acknowledge it, the Turkish-style executive presidential governance model is not functioning well.

September 25 2019
‘Marginal’ controversy on Turkish Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

‘Marginal’ controversy on Turkish Cyprus

Was Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Ersin Tatar aware that President Mustafa Akıncı might be seriously offended when he told a press conference while describing efforts to revive the Cyprus talks with the intention of establishing a federation on the island as an idea supported by some marginal groups?

September 23 2019