EGF Turkey File, March 2012

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics during March 2012

Key Points:

• Turkey closes its embassy in Syria and openly discusses establishing buffer zones inside its southern neighbour for refugees fleeing the conflict zones.
• There is discontent within Turkey"s Shia Muslim minority about the AKP government"s criticism of the Alawite Assad regime, raising concern about possible ethnic tension in areas near the Turkey-Syria border.
• Turkey releases two high profile journalists under investigation in the Ergenekon trial, but opens a second investigation into comments made by one of them to the press upon his release.
• Iraqi leaders envisage future export routes for the country"s oil through Turkey in case of a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while the two countries" economic ties grow as the Kurdish north becomes a prime export market for Turkish products.
• Turkey will go forward with its lawsuit against Iran for short-supplying on a natural gas contract.