Turkish Forum

Author: Media Watch

  • Turkey and the West: A Gathering Storm?

    Turkey and the West: A Gathering Storm?

    Nov 7, 2019 | 23:02 GMT
    The strategies pursued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have alienated some of the country's traditional allies, but they have boosted his nationalist credentials at home.

    The strategies pursued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have alienated some of the country’s traditional allies, but they have boosted his nationalist credentials at home.

    (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)

    Turkey, straddling a strategic geographic nexus between Europe and Asia, is the focus of conversation in this episode of the Stratfor podcast. Domestic economic and political challenges are pulling at the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, relations between Turkey and the United States, a key NATO ally, are at an ebb, and after Ankara launched an offensive into northeastern Syria, the U.S. Congress has called for sanctions. In the meantime, Turkey’s relationship with the European Union, which Ankara ostensibly aspires to join, appears now to be fraying at the edges. All of this raises the question: Will Turkey now turn to Russia?

    Stratfor’s Emily Hawthorne speaks with Sinan Ciddi, assistant professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, the director of the Institute of Turkish Studies and a frequent contributor to Stratfor Worldview, about Turkey’s current situation and its political future.

  • Turkey and the West: A Gathering Storm?

    Turkey and the West: A Gathering Storm?

    Nov 7, 2019 | 23:02 GMT

    The strategies pursued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have alienated some of the country's traditional allies, but they have boosted his nationalist credentials at home.

    The strategies pursued by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may have alienated some of the country’s traditional allies, but they have boosted his nationalist credentials at home.

    (ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)

    Turkey, straddling a strategic geographic nexus between Europe and Asia, is the focus of conversation in this episode of the Stratfor podcast. Domestic economic and political challenges are pulling at the rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Meanwhile, relations between Turkey and the United States, a key NATO ally, are at an ebb, and after Ankara launched an offensive into northeastern Syria, the U.S. Congress has called for sanctions. In the meantime, Turkey’s relationship with the European Union, which Ankara ostensibly aspires to join, appears now to be fraying at the edges. All of this raises the question: Will Turkey now turn to Russia?

    Stratfor’s Emily Hawthorne speaks with Sinan Ciddi, assistant professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, the director of the Institute of Turkish Studies and a frequent contributor to Stratfor Worldview, about Turkey’s current situation and its political future.

  • 7 Incredibly Beautiful Ancient Ruins Everyone Should See

    7 Incredibly Beautiful Ancient Ruins Everyone Should See

    Edited By: Natalia Jones

    Cenne Ulu Camii
    Great Mosque of Djenné

    The enigmatic and yet simultaneously humbling sight of ancient architecture is something that is bound to attract anyone’s attention. Surely, it’s fascinating to witness these remnants of the history of humanity and see how our ancestors used to live. This exactly why such ancient ruins as the Colosseum, Machu Picchu, Stonehenge, and the Egyptian Pyramids are all incredibly popular. And while all of these ancient monuments certainly deserve recognition, in this article we feature 7 other, probably somewhat less well known, but equally beautiful and well preserved ancient ruins from all corners of the world.

    1. Fatehpur Sikri, India

    Location: Uttar Pradesh

    It’s astonishing how this 16th-century city stayed almost flawlessly intact! Though Fatehpur Sikri is definitely not the oldest ancient relic on this list, its unique, nearly perfectly intact architecture is definitely worth a mention, especially since it’s situated in close proximity to other major tourist destinations, such as the Taj Mahal.
    Fatehpur Sikri (the City of Victory) is a fortified city created by Emperor Akbar in 1571. Akbar was the third Mughal emperor, who initiated the construction of this beautiful terracotta city to serve as a capital for the empire. During Akbar’s rule, the Mughal Empire was thriving and he managed to enlarge its borders to include nearly all of the Indian subcontinent, so the emperor had plenty of funds to spend on extraordinary architectural projects, with Fatehpur Sikri definitely being a prime example.

    Unfortunately, after just 14 years, the water supply to the city diminished dramatically and it was completely abandoned, standing uninhabited for centuries. Today, the city is a prime example of Mughal architecture, and tourists from all over the world visit the city to admire the multitude of royal palaces and pavilions the city contains.
    You can see pristinely preserved courtyards, gardens, towers, a mosque, ornamental pools, and royal quarters, including a harem, all covered with intricate decorations and unbelievably detailed carvings. It is the best-preserved collection of Mughal architecture in India. Today, the city also houses an archeological museum containing cultural artifacts from the Mughal and pre-Mughal period.

    2. Pula Arena, Croatia

    Location: Pula

    Image Source: Diego Delso/ Wikimedia Commons
    A true gem, the Pula Arena in Croatia is among the largest and best preserved Roman arenas in the world, and the only one to retain four side towers and all three Roman architectural orders. Though admittedly somewhat smaller than the Roman Colosseum, the intricate Pula Arena can seat 26.000 spectators. To this day, events such as concerts, festivals and gladiator fight re-enactments are organized at the amphitheater on a regular basis.
    Image Source: Orlovic/ Wikimedia Commons
    Apart from being one of the largest Roman arenas, the amphitheater is also the best-preserved Roman monument in Croatia. Located in close proximity to the seashore, the Pula Arena was built during 27 BC – 68 AD. The stone version was completed during the reign of emperor Claudius to hold gladiator fights and was in use until the 5th century when gladiator battles were banned.
    After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the building was abandoned and stones from the arena were plundered by local folk until the 13th century, with even the local Pula Cathedral containing stone from the amphitheater.

    3. Longmen Grottoes, China

    Location: Luoyang

    Image Source: Kevin Poh/ Flickr
    The Longmen Grottoes, one of the most recognized historical landmarks in China, are situated merely 12 km (7.5 miles) south of the city of Luoyang, one of the oldest cities in the world. The grottoes incorporate 2,345 caves and niches scattered with 2,800 inscriptions, 43 pagodas, and more than 100,000 Buddhist carvings. The earliest images on the site date back to 493 AD, but, according to archeological assessments, the carvings continued to be added until 1127 AD.
    The Longmen Grottoes are a magnificent sight. The myriad of small carvings and images of the Buddha and bodhisattvas scatter the rocky exterior of the mountain, leaving every observer speechless.

    Certainly, the gem of the Longmen Grottoes is Fengxiansi (672-675 AD), the most enormous, extravagant cave, pictured above. The carvings at Fengxiansi feature the impressive 17.14 meter (56 feet) tall Vairocana Buddha and many bodhisattvas. It is considered the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art, and rightfully so.
    May also interest you:

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    4. Bagan Temples, Myanmar

    Location: Central Burma

    Bagan is another sacred Buddhist site. It’s an entire architectural zone scattered with an exceptional range of art and monuments, such as temples, stupas, places of pilgrimage, frescoes and sculptures. The temples of Bagan were built during the 11th and 13th centuries, with every ruler of the Bagan civilization contributing to the unbelievably beautiful landscape of the area.
    Related article: A Collection of Wonderful Photographs of Myanmar
    Image Source: KX Studio/ Flickr
    Overall, there are more than 3,595 monuments in the area executed in various architectural styles, and the whole zone is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Needless to say, the Bagan Temples are also the largest tourist attraction in Myanmar, leading the way for the developing tourist industry in the country.

    5. Tikal, Guatemala

    Location: Tikal National Park

    Image Source: Mike Vondran/ Flickr

    Tikal is another UNESCO treasure, as it is likely the most impressive monument complex of the Maya civilization. The ancient city ruins are located deep in the rainforest of Guatemala, and historians suggest the Mayan name of this magnificent city was Yax Mutal.

    The earliest archeological findings in the area date back to 1,000 BC, but major construction didn’t begin until 400-300 BC when both the pyramids and platforms were built.

    Related article: 14 of the World’s Most Impressive Step Pyramids

    The jewel of the ancient city were the twin step pyramids facing one another, but the city also contains palaces and public squares, suggesting that it was the ceremonial center in the area. Certainly, Tikal is among the most valuable remnants of Pre Columbian civilizations in the Americas.

    6. Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali

    Location: Djenné, Mopti

    Another architectural wonder few people know about is the Great Mosque of Djenné. Many experts believe the mosque is the greatest achievement of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, and we can certainly agree that the Great Mosque of Djenné is one the most unique-looking and interesting structures we’ve ever seen!

    Related article: 7 Wonders of the World That Nobody Talks About

    A former meeting place for traders from Sudan and Guinea since 800 AD, the mosque and the surrounding city are sometimes collectively referred to as the City of Mud, as all the structures here are built from a mixture of straw, clay, and oil. Although the current mosque was built only in 1906 and significantly enlarged, the basis of the monument most likely dates back to 1,200 AD.

    7. Ta Prohm Temple, Cambodia

    Location: Siem Reap

    Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC-BY-SA-3.0

    The Ta Prohm Temple in Cambodia looks like a place straight out of a fairy tale! The stone temple is part of the ancient Khmer city of Angkor and it’s completely overpowered by powerful tree roots and branches, submitting to the power of nature. Once a Buddhist monastery hidden deep in the jungle, Ta Prohm was mostly abandoned by the 15th century.

    Image Source: Chuck Moravec/ Flickr

    However, during its heyday during the 12th century, the temple was a center of learning that accommodated over 12,500 people. The original name of the monastery was Rajavihara, or ‘The King’s Ministry’, and it was one of the most prominent and richest monasteries in the deeply religious Khmer Empire until its very fall.

  • Paul Manafort pushed Ukraine election hack conspiracy theory in 2016: New Mueller probe document dump

    Paul Manafort pushed Ukraine election hack conspiracy theory in 2016: New Mueller probe document dump

    By Dave Goldiner
    New York Daily News |
    Nov 02, 2019 | 4:21 PM

    Paul Manafort realized the value of the Ukraine election hacking conspiracy theory in real time.

    Newly released Justice Department documents reveal that the Trump campaign chief turned imprisoned felon told aides that Ukraine, not Russia, was meddling in the election during the 2016 race, Buzzfeed News reported on Saturday.

    “(Robert) Gates recalled Manafort saying the hack was likely carried out by the Ukrainians, not the Russians,” an FBI agent wrote in a summary of an interview with Gates, Manafort’s deputy who cut a plea deal and testified against his ex-boss.

    A 500-page batch of the so-called “302” forms that special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators filed was released after Buzzfeed won a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the DOJ.

    Even though U.S. intelligence has repeatedly dismissed it, the claim that Russia was not to blame for interfering in the 2016 election on Trump’s behalf has been a durable talking point among Trump supporters.

    [More Politics] Advocates call on Cuomo to keep an eye on prosecutors out to undermine criminal justice reforms »

    Along with muddying the waters about the benefits that Trump gained from Russia answering his calls to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails, the conspiracy theory raises the GOP-friendly possibility that it was actually Democrats who benefited from collusion with a foreign power.

    The “Ukraine hack” theory gained new credence when Attorney General William Barr launched an official investigation into the “origins” of the Mueller probe which Trump suggests was launched after Democratic-sympathizing Deep State intelligence operatives concocted an elaborate frame up to blame Russia.

    Key players in Robert Mueller’s Russia probe

    The document dump also underlines the intense interest that Trump and his campaign had in the stolen Democratic National Committee emails, which they correctly believed would prove politically toxic to Clinton and Democrats.

    “Gates recalled a time on the campaign aircraft when candidate Trump said, ‘Get the emails,’” one summary reads.

    https://www.turkishnews.com/tr/content/2019/11/07/uluslararasi-kirli-iliskiler/
    https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-paul-manafort-mueller-ukraine-trump-20191102-ylskg7a3p5gtfnwhawvlowywiu-story.html
  • Sassounian’s column of Nov. 7, 2019 = Genocide Resolution: A Major Victory, But Facts Should not be Ignored

    Sassounian’s column of Nov. 7, 2019 = Genocide Resolution: A Major Victory, But Facts Should not be Ignored

    On October 29, 2019, Armenian Americans scored a major victory in the halls of US Congress. For the first time in 35 years, the US House of Representatives adopted Resolution 296 affirming the facts of the Armenian Genocide.

    I used the term affirming because contrary to many Armenian and non-Armenian commentators, this was not the first time that the United States has recognized the Armenian Genocide. In fact, this was the fifth American governmental recognition. As I have reported dozens of times in past years, the United States Government first recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1951 when it sent an official document to the International Court of Justice (World Court) presenting the Armenian Genocide as an example of genocide. The US House of Representatives recognized the Armenian Genocide in two Resolutions adopted in 1975 and 1984, and Pres. Ronald Reagan issued a Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 1981 mentioning the Armenian Genocide.

    Among the misrepresentations made by various commentators were statements like:

    1.  “The October 29, 2019 recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the House of Representatives was the first time in a century that the United States has recognized the Armenian Genocide.” It was not! In fact, the text of Resolution 296 itself lists all the previous US recognitions of the Armenian Genocide and describes it as affirmation, not recognition.

    2.  “Resolution 296 set a policy on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the US government.” It did no such thing. This Resolution, like the others before it, is a non-binding Resolution, expressing simply the will of Congress. It is not a law and it has no legal consequences.

    3.  “Resolution 296 obligates Pres. Trump to use the term genocide in his next April 24 statement.” It does not. The President can still use other euphemisms to describe the Armenian Genocide, if he wishes to, as he and other US Presidents have done since Pres. Reagan.

    4.  “Resolution 296 will allow Armenians to file lawsuits in US courts against Turkey demanding restitution for damages suffered during the Genocide.” This is not true. As mentioned above, two similar Congressional Resolutions were adopted in 1975 and 1984 and neither one helped Armenians win a single lawsuit against Turkey in US courts.

    5.  “After the passage of Resolution 296, if the US Senate adopts the counterpart Resolution (SRes.150), and if Pres. Trump signs it, then the Resolution becomes a law.” This is untrue, since both the House and Senate versions are “stand alone” Resolutions. Should the Senate version also be adopted, the Resolution will not go to Pres. Trump for his signature, since the House and Senate versions were not submitted as a “Joint Resolution.”

    Nevertheless, none of the above clarifications are made to minimize the value of the adoption of Resolution 296 on October 29, 2019. Here are the reasons why this Resolution was a major victory for the Armenian Cause:

    1.  After trying to pass a genocide resolution in the House for 35 years, it is a major accomplishment for the Armenian American community to be able to finally score such a victory. It is not possible to continue demanding that the Armenian public support a cause for decades without a concrete result from time to time. This victory will energize Armenian-Americans to continue their commitment to the Armenian Cause and work harder to attain greater accomplishments.

    2.  While the passage of Resolution 296 does not obligate the President of the United States, it will increase the pressure on him to properly acknowledge the Armenian Genocide in his April 24 statement.

    3.  Resolution 296 also makes it more difficult for the Turkish government to continue its denials of the Armenian Genocide.

    4.  Paradoxically, the harsh reactions of the Turkish leaders to the adoption of Resolution 296 helped remind the Turkish people and others worldwide about the Armenian Genocide.

    5.  Thousands of articles, TV reports, and social media posts on the adoption of Resolution 296 helped further publicize the Armenian Genocide around the world. Over 100 years after the Genocide, the cry for justice remains alive thanks to the activism of Armenians and their supporters.

    6.  The passage of Resolution 296 is another step in Armenia’s struggle to pressure Turkey and the world community to take further steps to undo the damage caused by the Genocide, albeit delayed over a century!

    7.  Beyond setting straight the historical record, the effort over the passage of the genocide resolution is a political battle between the Armenian American community and the Turkish government and its paid lobbyists as to which side has more political clout in Washington. The overwhelming victory (405 to 11 votes) is a clear indication of the smashing defeat of Turkey and the total victory of Armenians.

    8.  The Turkish government has wasted tens of millions of dollars over the years hiring high-powered American lobbying firms in a failed attempt to block the approval of Armenian Genocide Resolutions by the US Congress. It is impossible to misrepresent genocide as a humane act no matter how many billions of dollars Turkey spends on lobbyists!

    9.  Turkey’s defeat also sends a message to the Turkish public that the taxes they have paid are being squandered by their government to deny the undeniable.

    10.  Some have made the excuse that Congress took advantage of the souring relations between Turkey and the United States to pass Resolution 296. While this is true, there are several counter-arguments:

    a) Congress is a political body; hence all its deliberations and decisions are of a political nature;

    b) If it weren’t for the diligent efforts of Armenian-American organizations and the Armenian community, there was no guarantee that this Resolution would have appeared on the agenda of the House of Representatives. Since the US Congress was unhappy with Turkey’s invasion of Northern Syria, the House of Representatives would have been satisfied by passing a Resolution on October 29, 2019, placing sanctions on Turkey for its barbaric attacks against Kurds. However, because of Armenian activism, the House also adopted on the same day the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

              c) We cannot be so naive as to expect that any government would defend the Armenian Cause if doing so would have been contrary to its own interests. It is perfectly reasonable that the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide happened to coincide with Congress’s anger at Turkey for other reasons. In fact, the more Armenians can find reasons to match their interests with those of other countries, the more successful they will be in their pursuit of the Armenian Cause.

    For the next step, I hope the US Senate will shortly pass Senate Resolution 150. This is important, since the US Senate has never adopted a Resolution acknowledging the Armenian Genocide. And maybe next year, the Armenian Genocide Resolution could be reintroduced, but this time as a “Joint Resolution,” which would mean that should the Resolution pass both Houses of Congress and the President signs it, the Armenian Genocide would become US law, not just a “non-binding” Resolution. This would obligate all future American Presidents to use the term Armenian Genocide in their April 24 statements or on any other occasion.

  • Turkey to send foreign Islamic State fighters home

    Turkey to send foreign Islamic State fighters home

    ISTANBUL — Turkey wants to send Islamic State fighters and their families back to their countries of origin after capturing parts of northeast Syria from the Kurdish forces who have held the prisoners since toppling the so-called caliphate earlier this year.

    Turkey’s cross-border incursion to fight the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces has sparked alarm that a resurgent IS will take advantage of the chaos. Those fears were stoked by a prison breaks and at least one car bombing in the initial days after the offensive began last month.

    US commandos killed IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on Oct. 26 in a raid on his hideout in Syria’s northwest Idlib province, but the Pentagon has warned that his death does not spell the end of IS, which has since named a new leader and warned it remains “on the doorstep of Europe.”

    Turkey says it has captured hundreds of IS militants and their family members since entering Syria on Oct. 9. It has urged Western governments to take responsibility for their citizens who went to Syria and Iraq to wage jihad beginning in 2014. But most European nations do not want the fighters and some have even revoked citizenship for a handful of militants.