BULLETIN No.242

Where Is Turkey Going? by Jonas Rey Political relations between Turkey and its neighbors have significantly changed. We can distinguish six major shifts in Turkish foreign policy within the last three months that could be considered historic:
US needs Turkey's voice in eastern world, says ATC chief Brent Scowcroft
Turkey presses Iran on uranium compromise RIA Novosti Turkey will continue efforts to persuade Iran to ship its low-enriched uranium abroad to allay international fears over its nuclear ambitions, the foreign minister said on Thursday.
The Huffington Post Alon Ben-Meir: An Alliance Central to Regional Stability Although the strategic relationship between Turkey and Israel is critical to both nations, it also transcends the bilateral benefits they each individually derive from it by maintaining the regional balance of powers.
Turkey insists it is not drifting away from Europe
Erdogan and al-Abrash discuss distinguished relations between Syria and Turkey
The new policy shift for Turkey Examiner.com
Turkish deal means Iran role for Nabucco? United Press International A Turkish agreement to acquire marketing rights for Iranian gas indicates the Persian country could be a Nabucco supplier
Israeli minister to visit Turkey next week: Turkish network
US pushes for agreement with suppliers of Nabucco The United States is encouraging Azerbaijan and Turkey to finalize energy price talks regarding the Nabucco pipeline, according to Mark Parris
TCDD bids for operation of Mecca-Medina high-speed rail
FBI's Mueller in Ankara on PKK initiative

France Champions Syria While US Says Differences with Damascus are “Profound”
Syria suspected of concealing nuclear activity...

Nasrallah Re-Elected to Lead Hezbollah
The militant Hezbollah group announced that Sheik Hassan Nasrallah has been re-elected as the Shiite Muslim group's leader for a sixth term.

Hamas and Its Long-Range Rockets: Military and Political Implications
BY: Jeffrey White The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
This recent launch occurs amid Hamas's efforts to build a serious long-range rocket force centering on weapons with a 40- to 60-km range. Such a plan creates military instability for the Israelis and strengthens Hamas politically in its struggle with Fatah. Weapons capability of this level could also be a potential spoiler in any Palestinian negotiations with Israel.
Israel's Right to Secure Boundaries and UN Security Council Resolution 242 - Dore Gold, Meir Rosenne, Ruth Lapidoth, Yehuda Blum, and Richard Holbrooke (Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs)
Palestinian leader demands unity Palestinian factions must unite and start campaigning for statehood, says jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
How to Build a Palestinian State - David Ignatius, Washington Post
Ha’aretz – 'Abbas says Israel holding secret talks with Hamas' Channel 10 quotes Abbas as telling BBC in Arabic that Washington isn't pushing Israel enough
Jerusalem Post PM: I want a final accord with PA, not an interim agreement

Iraq and its neighbours A regional cockpit As Americans prepare to leave, Iraq’s biggest neighbours vie for influence. “Mr Hill was often in parliament but generally stayed on the sidelines. Not so his Turkish counterpart, who embedded himself directly in negotiations and attended meetings of the key parliamentary committee. Indeed, he was rebuked for interfering by Iraq’s foreign minister, a Kurd, who then pointedly failed to visit Turkish stands at Baghdad’s recent international trade fair, the first such event since the American invasion.”
Iraq’s Election Law Morass
American officials need to help resolve the impasse over election laws in Iraq, and Iraqis must learn how to forge reliable compromises
Iraq president invites Total to work oil fields
Will disputes derail Iraq's election?BBC News
Erdoðan's Parliament speech resonates among Iraqi Kurds “The bravery of Erdoðan should be a lesson for the Iraqi Kurdish leaders to embrace the Turkmens,” Qurbani added

US warns of Iran sanctions ‘within weeks’
U.S. Talks Tougher on Iran
As Obama expressed doubt about engaging Ahmadinejad's government on the nuclear issue, an Iranian dissident called for Obama to pressure the regime
CSM Iran nuclear deal collapses. Time for US to get tough?
Financial Times Why Saudi Arabia should rethink its Yemen strategy
Governments far beyond Yemen’s borders should also be alarmed at the deteriorating security in a country that has long been a breeding ground for the religious extremists of al-Qaeda, writes Roula Khalaf

Will Obama Turn His Back on Mideast? - Michael Young, The National