khelashvili.blogspot.com

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: December 2007

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Considering Greece and Armenia's Support of Turkey's EU Candidacy. 8220;Isn’t it obvious that Turkey’s membership in the EU is beneficial for Armenia in the economic, political and security terms? He added. "What is more dangerous: an EU member Turkey or a Turkey rejected by the West and oriented to the East? 8220;Or what is more preferable? An Armenia isolated from the West or an Armenia bordering the EU? Our country’s foreign policy should have clea...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: January 2008

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Turkey's Next Economic Horizon: reviewing financial indicators. Over the past few years, Turkey has emerged as one of the global stars of foreign direct investment (FDI). The Turkish lira has reached unprecedented levels of strength, allowing Turks to better cope with rising energy prices, experience unprecedented buying power in the form of cheap goods from China and for wealthier Turks, it has given them more confidence to purchase foreign delicacies.

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: August 2007

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Pipeline Politics: Further Reading II. In its August 23rd print edition, The Economist. Magazine published an article, which echoes many of the same observations that were made in the July Bosphorus Watch. Turkey's Pipeline Politics: Russia, Iran, Greece, Italy". To view The Economist. It is therefore the opinion of this observer that that the EU would not gain any meaningful, strategic energy advantage by drafting Turkey into its ranks. The lack of for...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: Considering the Likely Fate of the AKP

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008/04/considering-likely-fate-of-akp.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Considering the Likely Fate of the AKP. The drama surrounding the potential closure of the ruling AKP party acquired a significant nuance with the decision of. To cut Turkey's credit rating to three increments below investment grade (BB-) last week. The credit agency attributed its sudden decision to "the increasingly challenging political and global environment that Turkey faces in the near term". 3) Closure of the AKP would require new elections and the c...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: October 2007

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Keeping up Appearances: Turkey, PKK and N. Iraq. The feverish media atmosphere generated by the potential Turkish invasion of northern Iraq is on its way to reaching almost Cuban Missile Crisis proportions. Even Prime Minister. The general manager of Al-Arabiya television, and by Gareth Jenkins. Of the Jamestown Foundation offer a number of very compelling insights for consideration. Are somewhat meaningless; it is very seldom. Massing at the border with Ir...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: March 2008

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Armenia's Presidential Election and its Ramifications for Relations with Turkey. Armenia's presidential election has finally passed after simmering for much of the month of March. For a synopsis of the events before and after the election, please refer to. In the Diplomatic Courier, or read the following open to. From the February 21st Economist. With the arrival of the communist era in the Caucasus, this conflict would be subsumed under the greater strateg...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: April 2008

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Turkey's FDI Drops Dramatically. Turkey's foreign direct investment (. Figure for the first two months of 2008 has experienced a very significant drop. Turkey received $1.5. In foreign investment during January and February 2008 - an 80.4% decrease from the FDI levels achieved during the first two months of 2007. Considering the Likely Fate of the AKP. Economic issues are perhaps of highest importance to Turkish voters and may have in fact been responsible ...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: June 2008

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Commissioned by the Swiss bank Credit Suisse depicts a discernible level of fallout from the tumult, which has surrounded. S governing AK Party. According to the poll conducted by A&G Research, support for the AKP has fallen to 39.7% from a mid-summer 2007 election result of 47%. S right-wing nationalist MHP has apparently improved its standing by three percentage points to 17.1%. Also of note,. S mainstream secular party, the CHP, continues to lose ground.

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: February 2008

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. A free, throw-away commuter newspaper made its debut in. During the past week and its timing could not have been more auspicious. As far as this observer is aware, the paper's debut has coincided with an event that has not occurred since the Czarist Russian offensive through the Caucasus during WWI - the last time Turkish soldiers were thrown into a mountainous winter campaign beyond the borders of. The winter surprise attack on PKK positions in the. In add...

bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com

The Bosphorus Watch: September 2007

http://bosphoruswatch.blogspot.com/2007_09_01_archive.html

Geopolitical analysis of Turkey and the region. Turkey's Silence On Iran Question. During the past week, the global press has enjoyed a multimedia feast over the comments about Iran made by France's Foreign Affairs Minister, Bernard Kouchner. While these remarks were subsequently tempered by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, this week's exchange nonetheless underscores the increasing weight that the Iran-question currently receives in diplomatic and political circles outside of Washington. Instead, ...