Photo Credit: Bahrain News Agency

Bahraini Adviser to the King for Media Affairs Nabil bin Yaqoob Al Hamer received U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas Krajeski yesterday at Gudaibiya Palace, where “they discussed strong historic relations” between Bahrain and the United States, “and their progress in various fields.” Ambassador Krajeski also praised “Bahrain’s numerous achievements brought about by the royal reform project of HM the King,” according to Bahrain News Agency.

Both the U.S. Ambassador and Bahraini Adviser “commended the positive outcome of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa” to the United States two weeks ago, “stressing its role in further promoting the Bahraini-American relations and bolstering bilateral cooperation.”

U.S. President Barack Obama called for “meaningful reform, dialogue and respect for universal human rights” in Bahrain during a meeting the Bahraini Crown Prince held with Deputy National Security Adviser Tony Blinken in Washington. Human Rights Watch also released a report yesterday entitled “Interfere, Restrict, Control,” on the current state of freedom of association in Bahrain, which claimed that “there is a track record over the last decade or more of the Bahraini authorities being unwilling to allow peaceful dissent and peaceful criticism,” as Human Rights Watch Director David Mepham argued. Voice of America attempted to contact Bahraini officials for comments following the release of the report, but was unsuccessful.

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Turkish activists shifted gears this week, engaging in peaceful protests and organizing neighborhood counsels to discuss demands. On Tuesday, over a thousand protesters gathered in Taksim Square to stand and stare at a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Attaturk, founder of the modern state of Turkey. This came after interior minister Muammer Guler stated that “police would not target protests that did not disturb public order.” Police detained several protesters but shortly released them.

After two weeks of protests and violent clashes, Turkish police violently forced protesters to clear Taksim Square and Gezi Park on Saturday, using tear gas and water cannons. Now, the various factions of the movement are attempting to organize around a common agenda and goals in order to act as a counterweight to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s Justice and Development Party (AKP), which in recent years has dominated the political scene, in part thanks to a lack of organized opposition.

In nightly neighborhood councils held in local parks, protesters are discussing future efforts, including “to try to connect with AKP voters, protect local neighborhoods, beat Mr. Erdogan’s candidate for Istanbul’s mayor in the coming municipal elections, campaign for the release of detained protesters and boycott pro-government businesses.”

However, concerns remain about the movement’s lack of leadership and unity. There are doubts that the fragmented social groups that comprised the Gezi Park protests will be able to rally around a common agenda. In an op-ed for Muftah, H. Kubra wrote: “This could have been a moment when the people of Turkey came together and stood against police brutality and for better local governance. Concrete, simple, and straightforward demands could have been made and any concessions provided by the government could have been instrumentalized and accepted early on. A better rhetoric and tone, one that was inclusive of all groups but also excluded hate speech, racism, sexism, and Islamophobia could have been underlined and presented…We really needed these things, but we did not get them from the Gezi Park protests.”

The National Endowment for Democracy hosted a lecture titled “The Role of Economics in Democratic Transitions: The Case of Tunisia.” It featured Mondher Ben Ayed, President and CEO of TMI – a Tunis based technology firm – and former advisor to the Prime Minister of Tunisia. The lecture was moderated by Larry Diamond, Co-Chair of the Research Council of the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy. Brief opening remarks were delivered by Jeffrey Gedmin, President and CEO of the Legatum Institute.

For full event notes continue reading or click here for the PDF.

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Syria’s rebel commander, Gen. Salim Idris, confirmed that they have received new weapons, though he refused to indicate the source. He also urged the U.S. “to hurry up in supplying us with weapons and ammunition.” However, a bipartisan group of senators has bound together in an attempt to block U.S. involvement in the Syrian conflict. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a bill to prohibit defense and intelligence agencies from funding any activities in Syria. In a statement, Senator Paul said that “engaging in yet another conflict in the Middle East with no vote or Congressional oversight compounds the severity of this situation.” Senator Murphy expressed his concern that U.S. weapons could fall into the wrong hands.

Disagreement is not limited to Congress, however. Secretary of State John Kerry has a preference for airstrikes while the Pentagon has tended to worry about entry and exit strategies, writes Gordon Lubold. The CIA and USAID are delivering arms and humanitarian aid, respectively. The White House continues to ponder what kind of strategy is both feasible and effective. Rosa Brooks posits that although such action is unlikely, the U.S. cannot claim that the use of military force in Syria is legal on the basis of international law. The U.S. can make a case for legitimate action, however.

As disagreement and uncertainty continue throughout the federal government, Syria’s neighbors are becoming increasingly concerned about a spillover of conflict. Iraq has warned Syria that its civil war is dividing the region and the Lebanese president has urged Hezbollah to retreat. Both countries have seen increased violence since the onset of the war, with the latest wave of unrest hitting Beirut last night as about 100 protesters demonstrated peacefully near parliament. Police have since cordoned off the area with razor wire and threatened to respond vigorously to any violence. Protesters said they are angered by the postponement of parliamentary elections and were standing in solidarity with the Sunni town of Arsal, which they say has been closed off by security forces following the shooting of four Shi’ite men earlier this week.

Photo Credit: AFP Photo/Yasser al-Zayyat

The Kuwaiti cabinet approved July 25 as its date for the country’s next parliamentary polls today, scheduling elections for Kuwait’s National Assembly for the third time in 16 months and for the sixth time since 2006.  The decision will be officially implemented in a decree from Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah to be issued soon.

This comes after the Constitutional Court dissolved the 50-member  parliament and found “fault leading up to the last elections in December.” The opposition boycotted the December elections in protest of the old electoral system, in which voters could only choose one candidate on their ballot, whereas they could choose up to four candidates in previous polls. The opposition argued that “under the old system, voters were allowed to cast ballots for up to four candidates, which the opposition said allowed alliances that partly made up for the absence of political parties,” which are illegal in Kuwait. Opposition figures also contended that the new system enables “the government to manipulate election results and subsequent legislation.” However, the Constitutional Court decided to uphold the “one-person, one-vote” system, even though the Constitutional Court dissolved the legislative body for its “lack of legitimacy.”

As Sylvia Westall wrote for Reuters, “almost constant factional infighting and disarray has stalled infrastructure development and held up economic reforms in Kuwait.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to visit Kuwait City on June 26 during his upcoming tour of the Middle East, India, and Brunei from June 21 to July 2.

Photo Credit: Alaa Badarneh

Just after two weeks in office, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah submitted his letter of resignation on Thursday. It is unknown at this time whether Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accepted his resignation though sources speculate that Abbas will likely not and instead look for a solution. Hamdallah’s resignation letter reportedly came after disagreements with his two deputies – one for political affairs and one for economic affairs – citing a “conflict over authority.”

Hamdallah replaced former Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on June 6, after Fayyad stepped down following a long-standing dispute with President Abbas. His cabinet consists overwhelmingly of members of the Fatah faction led by Abbas and many questioned how much leverage he would have.

Correspondents say his appointment filled a political vacuum in the Palestinian Authority but the new opening will again present a problem for President Abbas. According to Reuters, the timing is particularly bad because it comes weeks before Abbas is set to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry as part of an American bid to revive stagnant Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a new report titled “Interfere, Restrict, Control: Restraints on Freedom of Association in Bahrain.” The report details the repressive laws and policies that restrain civic and political groups and trade unions in Bahrain.

The report comes as Bahrain is considering a new Draft Law on Civil Organizations and Institutions. The law was adopted by the government in August, 2012 and is awaiting approval by both houses of the National Assembly and the signature of King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa. The HRW report notes that many provisions of the 2012 Draft Law of Associations are “even more draconian than the current 1989 law” that it would be replacing. The report also discusses the approval in May of an amendment to Bahrain’s Public Gathering Law, which will require demonstrators to place a security deposit of up to 20,000 dinars and give authorities the power to reject requests to demonstrate on vague grounds. This amendment is also awaiting approval by the National Assembly and King Hamad.

The report notes the incompatibility of these new laws with international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bahrain is a party. It calls on Bahrain to amend its draft legislation before signing it into law and to release those who have been imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression and assembly. The report urges the U.S. to hold Bahrain more accountable, saying it should “speak out against Bahrain’s intimidation and harassment of civil society organizations and activists.”

In a speech given in 2010 at the U.N. General Assembly, President Barack Obama said, “The arc of human progress has been shaped by individuals with the freedom to assemble and by organizations outside of government that insisted upon democratic change and by free media that held the powerful accountable…Civil society is the conscience of our communities and America will always extend our engagement abroad with citizens beyond the halls of government.  And we will call out those who suppress ideas and serve as a voice for those who are voiceless.”

Photo Credit: Ibrahim Zayed / Associated Press

President Mohamed Morsi appointed 17 new governors on Sunday including eight Islamists, seven of whom belong to the Muslim Brotherhood. Of these appointments, the naming of Adel al-Khayat as governor of Luxor inflamed controversy and sparked protests which have continued into the third day. Mr. al-Khayat is a member of the Building and Development party, the political arm of the Gamaa Islamiyya, a group responsible for a 1997 terrorist attack at a the Hatshepsut Temple in Luxor. Fifty-eight tourists and four Egyptians were gunned down by members of the Gamaa in the attack.

Hundreds of Luxor residents took to the streets on Wednesday protesting al-Khayat’s appointment and vowing to keep him out of the governor’s office due to his affiliation with the party. Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Hisham Zaazou submitted his resignation in protest of the appointment. However, his resignation was refused by Hisham Kandil, Egypt’s Prime Minister. Zaazou had said that al-Khayat’s appointment “has dangerous implications on the entire Egyptian tourism industry and foretells severe consequences.” There have also been protests in Monufiya in response to the appointment of Ahmed Sharawy as governor there.

The Muslim Brotherhood now controls 13 of Egypt’s 27 governorships. Borzou Daraghi writes that the appointments are part of a series of moves by Morsi intended to consolidate support ahead of anti-government protests planned for June 30th.

On June 19, 2013, the International Institute for Strategic Studies hosted an event titled “Interpreting the Iranian Election,” which featured Ray Takeyh, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and adjunct professor at Georgetown University. Dr. Takeyh discussed Iran’s June 14th presidential elections and the implications these elections have on both domestic Iranian politics and foreign policy.

For full event notes continue reading or click here for the PDF.  Read more…

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Egypt’s National Association for Change (NAC), a broad coalition of pro-democracy groups led by Mohammed ElBaradei, criticised U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson for her comments regarding the Egyptian Army and the mass opposition protests scheduled for June 30 after the ambassador spoke at Cairo’s Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies on Tuesday. The ambassador was speaking to several Egyptian NGOs and political parties when she mentioned that the United States “would not welcome [the Egyptian] army’s return to power if President Morsi [is] forced out by 30 June protests,” according to Ahram Online. NAC spokesperson Ahmed El-Noqr called Patterson’s statements “blatant interference” in Egyptian internal affairs and called upon Egypt’s foreign ministry to ”warn her against repeating [her statements] again [and] tell her she would be considered unwelcome in the country if she did.” He also called the Egyptian army a national institution “that belongs to the people and does not receive orders from abroad.”

The U.S. State Department did not respond to the criticism, however, the speech and comments come four days after the U.S. House of Representatives adopted 6 amendments to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act sponsored by Congressmen Gerry Connelly (D-VA), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Brad Schneider (D-IL), which “expands an existing report to include information on how the Egyptian military is supporting the rights of individuals in civil society and democratic promotion efforts.” The amendments come in response to the Egyptian government’s conviction of 43 NGO workers, “including 17 Americans, for their involvement in pro-democracy groups.” Representatives Connelly and Wolf are also circulating a bi-partisan letter to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi “to immediately reconsider the court action and permit the NGOs to continue their work.” 55 Congressmen have signed the letter so far.

Photo Credit: Algerian Foreign Press

In an effort to reassure the Algerian public of his good health, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika made a television appearance last week from his hospital bed in Paris. President Bouteflika suffered a stroke in April, and an initial statement from his office claimed that he would return to Algiers within a week. His continued absence from the country has fueled succession rumors and questions about whether he will finish out his third term.

The video footage showed President Bouteflika meeting with Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and the army chief of staff, General Gaid Salah. Sellal said the president’s health seemed “fine,” and that he had given him detailed instructions on running the country. Though it is speculated that President Bouteflika’s illness will make it unlikely that he will run for a fourth term next year, members of the National Liberation Front (NLF) insisted on their support for his candidacy. According to Bahaa Eddin Taliba, deputy head of the NLF, “We are not thinking about an alternative, because we are convinced that the covenant between the president and the people is not over yet.”

The president’s illness is viewed as an opening by Islamist parties. Leaders of the Islamist Green Algeria Alliance met last week, reportedly to discuss “specific ideas regarding the next presidential elections,” and agreed to “introduce these ideas to partisan institutions.”

Meanwhile, amid speculation that the president is not well enough to finish his current term, the Algerian press is calling for the application of Article 88 of the Constitution, which would require the president of the Council of the Nation to act as head of state for a maximum of 45 days while the presidential seat is declared vacant, and then remain in power for anther 60 days until elections can be held.

In an analysis for Foreign Policy, Riccardo Fabiani outlined three possible succession scenarios for Algeria, and noted that the current regime’s failure to groom a successor could increase the chances of formerly marginalized politicians at becoming “compromise candidates”.

On Tuesday, June 18, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing titled “Elections in Iran: The Regime Cementing its Control.” Mr. Alireza Nader, Senior International Policy Analyst at RAND Corporation, Dr. Suzanne Maloney, Senior Fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, and Mr. Karim Sadjadpour, Senior Associate at the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, testified. The subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), presided.

For full event notes continue reading or click here for the PDF. Read more…

In their new book, Pathways to Freedom: Political and Economic Lessons from Democratic Transitions, Isobel Coleman and Terra Lawson-Remer highlight critical factors for any emerging democracy. Coleman and Lawson-Remer’s  ”seven most important takeaways” for transitioning countries are presented in summary here:

1. Policymakers must anticipate economic downturns and shock by fostering a strong middle class. An enduring and stable middle class safeguards democracy.
2. Even imperfect, “sham” elections can “sow the seeds of public expectations that over time blossom into democratic demands that cannot be ignored.”  Statistically speaking, authoritarian regimes that are at least partially open “are the likeliest to become more democratic, especially if they provide for multiparty electoral competition.” Therefore, public engagement in the political process is important.
3. Armed rebellions rarely lead to a democratic government even when authoritarian regimes are overthrown. Instead, democratic transitions are more likely to succeed when civil society is engaged in mobilizing the masses through nonviolent protests like in Egypt and Tunisia.
4. Inclusive economic growth is critical. In bolstering economic reform, the international community “should support the economic policies of domestic reformers through development grants and loans, sovereign loan guarantees, and debt forgiveness.”
5. New democracies must demonstrate to citizens that they “can protect their core rights and establish fair economic and political rules.” “If people believe that legal systems and public institutions work for them, rather than against them, it gives them a stake in the system and a greater willingness to tolerate the inevitable turbulence of a transition,” they argue.
6. Rule of law is strengthened by devolving power to localities. It’s “not a panacea” but where there are well-established local governing institutions, power devolution can deepen democracies and mitigate secessionist movements.
7. Democratizing nations should rely on “good neighbors,” which include political and economic alliances, not just borders. Weak authoritarian neighbors can stunt democratic progress and must be compensated for through stronger alliances with those of positive influence.

Lefteris Pitarakis/Associated Press

On Monday, senior officials of the Group of Eight (G8) met for a two-day conference to draft a statement on the war in Syria acceptable to both Russia and to those who seek to depose President Bashar al-Assad. The meeting’s host, British Prime Minister David Cameron, stated that he hoped the gathering would lead to a joint declaration that would serve as the basis for future talks in Geneva. According to a Western official, Members of the G8 hope that Assad can be persuaded to send a representative to those discussions though the Geneva conference is now likely to be delayed until late August or September.

At the conclusion of the summit, the communique claimed, “We remain committed to achieving a political solution to the crisis based on a vision for a united, inclusive, and democratic Syria,” and call for the Geneva talks to be held “as soon as possible.” They also confirmed that additional contributions of almost $1.5 billion will be provided to meet humanitarian needs in Syria and in neighboring countries.

According to USA Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Barack Obama during the meeting that he does not agree with Obama’s decision to provide military aid to Syrian rebels but supports negotiations to end Syria’s civil war. Obama later remarked, “We do have differing perspectives on the problem but we share an interest in reducing the violence, securing chemical weapons and ensuring that they’re neither used nor are they subject to proliferation,” adding that, “We want to try to resolve the issue through political means if possible.”

Meanwhile, Obama has received backlash at home after declaring he would provide more military assistance to the Syrian rebels in light of Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Representative Tom Cotton said he was not ready to sign off on a plan until he acquires more information on Obama’s proposal while Senator Rand Paul claimed America should cut off funding to the Syrian rebels and remove itself from the conflict altogether.

Photo Credit: Reuters/Marco Djurica

In an address to fellow members of parliament from Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ”defended the nation’s police and vowed to increase their powers to deal with unrest.”   Erdoğan said that the police have acted with “common sense” in response to the protests, although much of the criticism his government has faced since the protests began has related to police brutality. As the Prime Minister argued, “Firing tear gas is a most natural right of the police. Have they fired a bullet? Have they used guns?…[in the face of a] comprehensive and systematic movement of violence, [the police displayed an] unprecedented democratic stance and successfully passed the test of democracy.” Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç also mentioned on Monday that the government “could even use elements of the Turkish Armed Forces” to quell the protests if necessary.

The Prime Minister held two counter-protests in Ankara over the weekend, where he announced to a crowd of his supporters, “If anyone wants to see the real picture of Turkey, this is Turkey.” The Turkish government also began “working on legislation to restrict the use of Twitter and other social media” due to its role in facilitating the protests.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the protests with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu during their weekly phone call this week. According to State Department Spokeswoman Jen Psaki, the United States ”remain[s] focused on calling on all parties to ease tensions and to resolve the situation through dialogue, taking into account views from across the political spectrum. We also continue to urge all sides to exercise restraint and avoid violence.” Ms. Psaki also said that while she has not seen reports that the Turkish government is considering deploying the army to quell the protests, the State Department ”remain[s] concerned about any reports of activity including police brutality, including violence. There were some reports over the weekend about the prosecution of medical professionals who were treating injured people…all of these reports are greatly concerning and we’re very focused on monitoring closely.”

Photo Credit: the Royal Court

In a commencement speech at Mutah University’s Military Wing on Sunday, King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed domestic and regional challenges and emphasized the need for continued political reform.

King Abdullah pointed to those who doubt the genuine nature of Jordan’s political reforms as being a domestic challenge for the country. He said, “Among the domestic challenges, for example, are attempts by some to doubt the level of success on the political reform path because of lack of understanding or correct interpretation of the concerns, and because of the debate and sparring between political, ideological and partisan currents that accompanied the democratization process.” He added that the “will for positive change exists and is solid,” and described a “political reform roadmap” whereby parliament and the Lower House are given wider, consolidated political roles.

Jordan is also hosting over 500,000 Syrian refugees, facing a faltering economy, and dealing with the backlash from an Internet censorship law that went into effect earlier this month. In response to the law, Reporters Without Borders wrote King Abdullah a letter urging him to “restore access to the websites currently blocked within Jordan, and to rescind the recent press law’s repressive provisions, so that it guarantees freedom of information.”

In an op-ed for the LA Times, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s David Schenker describes the Internet censorship as an effort aimed at stabilizing the country by curbing “what it considers irresponsible reporting — on matters such as corruption — that incite citizens.” He noted that, in response to protests, 85 out of 150 MPs have signed a petition calling for a review of the law, and the minister of state for media affairs and communications Mohammad Momani announced that “the government might be willing to reconsider it.”

King Abdullah met on Monday with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. They discussed the rising toll of the Syrian crisis and the impact of Israel’s settlement policy on the peace process.

Photo Credit: Reuters

Two Saudi Arabian women have been sentenced to ten months in jail and a two year travel ban for helping a Canadian woman leave her Saudi husband. Equality Now, an NGO dedicated to women’s rights, explained that the Canadian woman had begged Fawzia Al Ayuni and Wajiha Al Huaider to help her and her children flee. Ms. Al Huaider told Human Rights Watch that their involvement with Natalie Morin began in 2009 when her mother called the activists asking them to help her daughter who she claimed was being abused by her husband, Sa’eed al-Shahrani. The family lives in the Eastern Province city of Dammam.

The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is also home to the majority of the country’s Shia population which has borne witness to two years of unrest writes Frederic Wehrey, Senior Associate of the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His recent paper titled “The Forgotten Uprising in Eastern Saudi Arabia” outlines the history of “the regime’s sectarian discrimination against Shia and economic neglect and political marginalization of the region” and the Saudi government’s response to the unrest. The kingdom’s Shia population has demanded increased participation, the release of political prisoners, an elected consultative council and a constitution but the government has not responded adequately, explains Wehrey. To quell tensions and improve conditions in the Eastern Province, Wehrey recommends, among other things, the removal of Saudi troops from Bahrain, the repeal of sedition laws, and recognition of the Shia Jafari legal code. For a brief of Wehrey’s paper, click here.

Photo Credit: MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

During the recent mark up of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (H.R. 1960), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) introduced an amendment (H.R. 4310) that would place certain restrictions on the sale of tear gas to transitioning countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The amendment reads, “None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be used to provide tear gas or other riot control items to the government of a country undergoing a transition to democracy in the Middle East or North Africa unless the Secretary of Defense certifies to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives that the security forces of such government are not using excessive force to repress peaceful, lawful, and organized dissent.”  The amendment passed by voice vote on June 14, 2013. Rep. Ellison first proposed this amendment in the House version of the FY13 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

Human Rights First applauded Ellison’s action in a press release, and Human Rights First’s Robyn Lieberman said, “By screening for excessive force against peaceful protest, the amendment sets forth the proposition that the U.S. withhold the sale of crowd control items from human rights violators, rather than waiting for them to use U.S. weapons to commit abuses.  It’s time that U.S. arms transfers got in line with U.S. policy goals.”

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted a panel on Thursday, June 13, 2013 from 3-5pm on Turkey’s role in and response to the Arab Spring protests, political transitions, and revolutions. The panel was hosted by Christian Ostermann, director of the History and Public Policy Program (HAPP) and the director of the European Studies (ES) program at the Wilson Center, and featured  Bülent Aras, Chairman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s Strategic research Center (SAM), Mesut Özcan, Deputy Chairman of SAM and  adviser to Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmet Davutoğlu, and Şaban Kardaş, Associate Professor of International Relations at TOBB University of Economics and Technology in Ankara, as well as an adviser at Diplomacy academy.

For full event notes continue reading or click here for the PDF. Read more…

On Friday, June 14, the Middle East Institute held its Fourth Annual Conference on Turkey. The final panel was entitled “The Turkey-Iran-Iraq Nexus” and featured Henri Barkey, professor of international relations and department chair at Lehigh University, Denise Natali, Minerva Chair at National Defense University, and Alireza Nader, senior international policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. The panel was moderated by Phebe Marr, a historian and analyst of modern Iraq. The panelists discussed Turkey’s new, positive relations with the Kurds, tensions with Baghdad as well as Turkey’s relationship with Iran.

For full event notes continue reading or click here for the PDF.  Read more…