MonitorsPublished on Sep 19, 2016
Erdogan said that by carrying out attacks, the terrorist organisation PKK is trying to make its presence felt in Cizre.
West Asia Monitor | Volume III; Issue XV | Erdogan’s statement on the terrorist attacks in Cizre

Turkish President Erdogan’s official statement on the terrorist attacks in Cizre

“I strongly condemn the bomb attack, which targeted our security forces and people in the Cizre district of Şırnak, and denounce its perpetrators. May Allah bless the souls of our policemen who were martyred in this attack committed by the separatist terrorist organization PKK! I offer my condolences to their families and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. Cizre is a veteran district where the separatist organisation was buried in the ditches it had dug, the local people integrated with and embraced their state. The terrorist organisation which has not been indulged by the people of Cizre is trying to make its presence felt by carrying out such attacks. This attack which took place at a time when Turkey was fighting against terror threats inside and outside of its borders will only increase country's determination. Rest assured, our struggle against terrorist attacks which targeted our entire nation on July 15, our children in Gaziantep, and the chairman of the main opposition party in Artvin will succeed. Turkey will never allow the dirty aims of those who target the peace in our country through terrorist attacks. I once again remember with grace our policemen martyred in Cizre, wish a quick recovery to the wounded and extend my condolences to our nation.” Source: Presidency of the Republic of Turkey

Prime Minister Statement During the Visit of Egyptian President to India

Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Distinguished Ministers and members of the Egyptian and Indian delegations; and, Friends from the media, I am delighted to welcome His Excellency Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, on his first state visit to India. Excellency, you are a man of many achievements, both at home and abroad. 1.25 billion people of India are happy to see you here. Egypt itself is a natural bridge that connects Asia with Africa. Your people are a voice of moderate Islam. And, your nation a factor for regional peace and stability in Africa and the Arab world. Egypt has always championed the cause of developing countries. Friends, President and I held extensive discussions on the shape and substance of our partnership. We have agreed on an action oriented agenda to drive our engagements. An agenda that: responds to our socio-economic priorities; promotes trade and investment ties; secures our societies; helps build peace and harmony in our region; and advances our engagement on regional and international issues. Friends, In our conversation, President Sisi and I have agreed to build on multiple pillars of our cooperation. We agreed to sustain and strengthen the momentum of high-level political exchanges. We recognized that strong trade and investment linkages are essential for economic prosperity of our societies. We, therefore, agreed that increased flow of goods, services, and capital between our two economieshas to be among our key priorities. To this end, the agreement on cooperation in maritime transport signed today will be an important facilitator. I would also urge our private sector to take the lead in building new business and commercial partnerships between the two countries. To diversify the portfolio of economic engagement, we will also deepen our cooperation in agriculture, skill development, small and medium industry and health sectors. Friends, President and I are of one view that growing radicalisation, increasing violence and spread of terror pose a real threat not just to our two countries. But, also to nations and communities across regions. In this context, we agreed to further our defence and security engagement which would aim at: Expanding defence trade , training and capacity building; Greater information and operational exchanges to combat terrorism; Cooperation on emerging challenges of cyber security; and Working together to fight drug trafficking, transnational crimes and money-laundering. As two ancient and proud civilisations, with rich cultural heritage, we also decided to facilitate greater people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges. Excellency, India appreciates the good work that Egypt has been doing during its current term on the UN Security Council. Our decision to consult more closely on regional and global issues, both at the U.N. and outside, will benefit our common interests. We agreed that the U.N. Security Council needs to be reformed to reflect the realities of today. We also welcome Egypt's participation at next week's G20 Summit. We believe it will add value and enrich the substance of discussions at G-20. Your Excellency President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Let me once again extend my warmest welcome to you and your delegation. I wish you and the Egyptian people all success. India stands ready to be a reliable partner in fulfillment of your developmental, economic and security goals. Thank you. Thank you very much. Source: Ministry of External Affairs

MEDIA WATCH

Russia flies their first bombing raids from Iran

Russia flew out its first bombers from an Iranian air base after Moscow and Tehran agreed on a cooperation deal. Source: Moscow Times

Russia, US close to a breakthrough deal on Syria: Putin

Putin said that negotiations are heading in the right direction and they are getting close to a breakthrough deal with the US on Syria. Source: Bloomberg

Iran executes nuclear scientist convicted of spying

Iran official confirmed that Iran had executed a nuclear scientist convicted of spying for the US. Until now, Iran had not confirmed that it had detained and put the nuclear scientist on trial. Source: CNBC

Saudi Arabia to deport 526 expats after serving time on terror charges

Saudi Arabia sentenced 526 expats to serve imprisonment. These expats are to be deported to their home countries after serving time. Source: Al-Arabiya

Saudi Arabia makes rare statement on ISIS inspired terror attacks

Saudi Arabia made a rare statement on the nature of the security cooperation with the German police after an ISIS inspired refugee attacked people with an axe. Source: Independent

M. J. Akbar’s West Asia tour

M. J. Akbar discussed terrorism with President Fuad Masum and asked for cooperation in recuse of 39 Indians who were abducted. Source: India Today

Turkish jets attack PKK in Iraq

Turkish jets attacked rebel PKK targets in Iraq in response to bomb blasts carried out by the PKK which killed policemen. Source: Fox News

Egypt and IMF reach a Staff-level agreement on a three year USD 12 billion extended facility

IMF agreed to extend more funds to the Extended Fund Facility which finances the economic reform in Egypt. This was done in an effort to ease deficit. Source: IMF

Military officials distorted ISIS intelligence, Congressional Panel says

A congressional report said that officials from United States Central Command altered intelligent reports to give a more optimistic picture of the war against ISIS. Source: New York Times

US: Seizure of abandoned Palestinian property, unprecedented

The US State Department criticised Israel’s plan to seize Palestinian property under a new law which, for the first time, sanctioned Jewish construction on Palestinian property. Source: Jerusalem Post

Turkey: Assad can be part of transition period in Syria

Turkey announced that Assad may not be a viable long term solution but he could be part of the transition period. They also rejected the idea of Kurdish rebels or IS militants being part of any political solution. Source: Tehran Times

Russian use of Iranian air base temporarily stopped

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said that Russia had requested to use the air base on a temporary basis and its objective was completed. Source: Tehran Times

Iraq hangs 36 men for Camp Speicher massacre

Iraq hanged 36 men responsible for one of the worst ISIS massacres at Camp Speicher where 1700 people were killed. Source: BBC

Jordan gets 100 million dollars for education of Syrian refugees

Donor countries have pledged close to 100 million dollars to help Jordan enrol all the Syrian children into schools run by the government. Source: Al-Arabiya

Turkey army hits IS and PYD targets in Syria

Turkish army howitzers hit IS targets near Jarablus and YPG, PYD’s military wing, targets near Manjib as Turkish troops went across the Syrian border. Source: Xinhua

Saudi court sentences an Egyptian for 6 years over charges of spying for Iran

The Egyptian was sending confidential documents of the Saudi army to the Iranian embassy in Beirut. He will be deported after serving his term. Source: Xinhua

Israel carries out air strikes after Syrian mortar fire hits Golan Heights

Israel retaliated with air strikes when mortar fire from its war ravaged neighbour spilled over into Golan Heights. The strikes were meant to take out the Syrian army "launcher." Source: Al-Arabiya

Cuba, Iran agree to deepen economic, political ties

Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif met Cuban President Raul Castro as part of a six nation tour. They discussed bilateral relations and agreed that they must deepen relations in the face of Western isolation. Source: Xinhua

Biden warns Kurds not to seek a separate enclave on Turkish Syria border

Vice-President Biden said US would cut all aid to the Kurds should they pursue a separate enclave on the Turkish Syria border. Source: Washington Post

Russia spending $150 million monthly on Syrian mercenaries

Unnamed investors have helped the Russian state hire security agencies to fight it in Syria claimed a report. Source: Moscow Times

Iraqi army captures Qayyara oil region from the IS

The Iraqi army captured a major oil producing region which is widely being seen as a big step towards recovering the Mosul province. Source: Reuters

Iraq asks Saudi Arabia to remove its ambassador

Iraq asked Saudi Arabia to replace its ambassador to Iraq after he alleged that Shia militias were aggravating tensions with Sunni Muslims in Iraq. He also accused them of plotting his assassination. Source: BBC

Rouhani approves construction of two nuclear plants

The final dates are yet to be announced but the Rouhani government has approved the construction of 2 nuclear power plants Source: Tehran Times

Iraq government willing to sell oil through Iran if Kurdish talks fail

According to a senior Iraqi government official, government would sell oil through Iran if the talks with the Kurdish autonomous region fall through. Source: Reuters

 Attacks kill 18 near Karbala, Iraq

ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at a wedding party in Karbala that killed 18 and injured many more. Source: Al-Jazeera

Thousands of migrants rescued off Libyan coast

Italian ships and non-government vessels rescued thousands of migrants off the coast of Libya. They were attempting to flee war, poverty and human traffickers. Source: New York Times

Egypt and India must cooperate on terror: Al Sisi

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has said India and Egypt must work towards greater cooperation on terrorism, even as he told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that he wished to take anti-terror cooperation to a "whole new level." Source: Hindu

Saudi Arabia, Russia sign oil pact which might limit output in the future

Saudi Arabia and Russia agreed to cooperate in world oil markets, saying they will not act immediately but could limit output in the future, sending prices higher on hopes the two top oil producers would work together to tackle a global glut. Source: Reuters

Turkey: Kurdish YPG must not lead offensive against ISIS

Turkish defence minister said that ‘local people of the region’ should lead the fight against ISIS. He also rejected US claims that YPG had withdrawn beyond the Euphrates. Source: Haaretz

SUGGESTED READINGS

  • Many Refugees, Poor Data by Steffen Angenendt, David Kipp, and Anne Koch
  • SWP, August 6, 2016
  • Fight or Flight: The Desperate Plight of Iraq’s “Generation 2000”
  • International Crisis Group, August 8, 2016
  • Soft Power in the Middle East: The Invisible Skirmish by Fadi Elhusseini
  • E-International Relations, August 8, 2016
  • Don’t celebrate ISIS setbacks too soon by William McCants
  • Brookings, August 9, 2016
  •  The Unresolved Internal Struggle Beyond the Turkish Coup by Marianna Charountak
  • E-International Relations, August 9, 2016
  • Baghdad Needs to Adjust to Changing Islamic State Tactics by Renad Mansour
  • Carnegie, August 10, 2016
  • The Grinding Fight to Root Out ISIS of Battered Libya by Frederic Weherey
  • Carnegie, August 10, 2016
  • Fractured Lands: How the Arab world came apart by Scott Anderson
  • NY Times, August 11, 2016
  • A Cynical Report Card on the Turkish Game of Thrones by Oghuzan Ghoksel
  • E-International Relations, August 13, 2016
  • Turkey Needs Reassurance of West’s Friendship by Sinan Ulgen
  • Carnegie, August 15, 2016
  • Present at the Creation by Harald Doornbros and Jenan Moussa
  • Foreign Policy, August 16, 2016
  • The Russian-Turkish fling: On again Off again by Henry Barkey
  • Wilson Centre, August 17, 2016
  • Russia and Iran: Historic Mistrust and Contemporary Partnership by Dimitri Trenin
  • Carnegie, August 18, 2016
  • The Islamist Spectrum by Cameron Glenn
  • Wilson Centre, August 18, 2016
  • The problem with vows to ‘defeat’ Islamic State by Stephen Biddle
  • The Atlantic, August 21, 2016
  • A Persistent and Resilient Adversary: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula by Brian Jenkins
  • The Rand, August 22, 2016
  • Rescuing the Sinking Ship by Amr Adly
  • Carnegie, August 22, 2016
  • Conservative Authoritarianism in Turkey by Caglar Ezikoglu
  • E-International Relations, August 23, 2016
  • Ahrar Al Sham Movement: Syria’s local Salafists by Ali Yassir
  • Wilson Centre, August 23, 2016
  • What Erdogan and Khomeni have in common by Alireza Nader
  • The Rand, August 24, 2016
  • Why Syria’s War May be About to Get Even Worse by Colin Clarke and Serena Chad
  • The Rand, August 25, 2016
  • The PYD’s Dream of Uniting the Cantons has come to an End by Aaron Stein and Michael Stephens
  • Atlantic Council, August 25, 2016
  • How Arab Authoritarian Regimes Learned to Defeat to Defeat Popular Protests by Marc Lynch
  • Carnegie, August 25, 2016
  • The Political Economy of Sectarianism in the Gulf by Justin Gengler
  • Carnegie, August 29, 2016
  • Obama Administration and Israel: Aberration or Harbinger of Change? By Jonathan Sciarcon
  • E-International Relations, August 29, 2016
  • The Economic Devestation of Syria: Strategic Implications by Eran Yashiv
  • INSS, August 29, 2016
  • Why Peace is not Hand by Elliot Abrams
  • National Review, August 31, 2016
  • Where does it End? By Frederic Hof
  • Atlantic Council, September 01, 2016
  • Summit signals Russia’s new strategy towards Iran by Nikolay Kozhanov
  • Chatham House, September 02, 2016
  • Iran’s Continued Imprisonment of Dual Citizens by Haleh Efsandiari
  • Wilson Centre, September 02, 2016
  • Are Arab Nationalism and Islamism Two Sides of the Same Coin? By Nathanel Chouraqui
  • E-International Relations, September 02, 2016
  • Long Game and Hard Choices: The Obama Administration and Democracy in Egypt by Nicholas Bouchet
  • E-International Relations, September 06, 2016
  •  How Kurdish-Arab Strikes are hindering the work of White Helmets by Shelly Kittleson
  • Al-Monitor, September 09, 2016

Editors:

Kanchi Gupta, Associate Fellow, ORF Abhilash Prasann,Research Intern, ORF
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