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CAIRO 25 June 2020: Turkey's ambitions to expand in the Arab World were not set by incumbent President Recep Tayip Erdogan. He has just been venturing into making them materialize. Yet, in the process, he rebelled against the powers that made him chief of state.

Writer and Regional Affairs Journalist Hend al-Dawy tells Egypt Today that the 2017 amendment of the Turkish constitution - turning the ruling system from parliamentary to presidential - sparked outrage in the army. The move was a rebellion by Erdogan against the coalitions that had helped him become prime minister in 2001.

In the 1990s, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) allied with a military order that had 200 members who adopt the ideas of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The alliance was brokered by incumbent Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu. Post the 1997 coup, military candidates were not favored by the public opinion. Hence, Erdogan had been chosen by the order dubbed Ergenekon constituting the Turkish deep state to hold office before he turned against them in what is called "The Ergenekon Trials" in 2013, the writer says.

The majority of around 300 individuals who are military personnel, politicians, journalists and civil society figures - were handed lengthy sentences as they were convicted of plotting an alleged coup.

Since the outbreak of civil war in Syria in 2011, Erdogan rebelled against the state's secularism, and Ataturk's "Zero Conflict" strategy involving not intervening in the conflicts of other states, the regional affairs journalist adds.

Nevertheless, there is a consensus among Erdogan and the Ergenekon on Turkey's intervention in neighboring states. That is because the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne designating the current borders of Turkey will expire in 2023. Turkey has been targeting to achieve the plan proposed in the 1920 National Oath/Pact (Al Mithaq Al Milli) on borders. The plan is about occupying northern Syria and Iraq, consisting of Mosul, Erbil, Kirkuk, and Aleppo. That is why Turkey has intervened northern Iraq under the pretext of chasing PKK elements, Dawy explains.

The attempted coup was orchestrated because Erdogan has been promoting the Turkish Islamist model not because of the expansive plans he has been working to accomplish. Erdogan's project is about safeguarding his position as the Muslim Brotherhood leader but not serving the brotherhood at the expense of the Turkish state. The goal of the attempted coup was getting rid of Erdogan but not halting Turkish foreign interventions, the writer elaborates.

The disagreement occurred between Erdogan and the Ergenekon "because he started to promote the Islamist project which is against the creed of the deep stateThe intelligence agencies of some states, particularly Russia, learnt about the attempted coup and informed him. That's why he was able to foil it. Some reports also suggest that the United States was involved in the coup's plan," the regional affairs journalist clarifies.

"It is noted that Erdogan has been seeking to replicate the Iranian model of Revolutionary Guard by dismantling the systematic official army and using militias," Dawy points out. That is why he established SADAT, a company training and hiring mercenaries.

"The Turkish army will avenge one day and may receive backing from the United States, the United Kingdom and some European countries who want to get rid of Erdogan before 2023 in order to thwart the expansive schemes Turkey aims for after the expiry of the Treaty of Lausanne," Dawy underlines.

"The West uses Turkey to narrow the role of Russia in the Middle East. Turkey's military intervention in Idlib took place for the first time since the outbreak of the civil war because its proxies had been bombarded by Russia and the Syrian Arab Army, and because it is Turkey's most important stronghold in Syria," the writer says.

"In parallel, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar reinforced ties with Russia, and restored relations with Syria which has angered the United States and the United Kingdom. Hence, Turkey began intervening in Libya seizing the opportunity to negotiate on Idlib with Russia, and to push Europe to pressure Egypt to allow Turkey join the East Mediterranean Gas Forum," the regional affairs journalist adds.

The Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu made a statement at the time saying that Turkey and the United Kingdom share similar views on Libya. After Turkey-backed militias affiliated to the Government of National Accord (GNA) had taken over Al Watiyah, U.S. President Donald Trump described the moves as successful. Erdogan also stated that no projects eastern the Mediterranean will succeed without Turkey.

"Erdogan never moves without the green light of one of the super powers, particularly the Anglo-Saxon ones," Dawy highlights.

"Turkey also wants to avenge the toppling of the Muslim Brotherhood regime in Egypt while paving the way for a second wave of the Arab Spring which focuses on North Africa mainly Tunisia, Algeria, and Mauritania," the writer showcases.

"The red line designated by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi as Sirte-Al Jufrah warning the militias from crossing it has put the United States in a critical situation given that Egypt is a stronger ally than Turkey. Therefore, it will try to make a balance. Nonetheless, Erdogan may trigger more provocations and put the West in an embarrassing position," the regional affairs journalist estimates.

"France is enraged, and Italy began abandoning the idea of using Turkey to counter the Russian power in the Middle East. Although France and Italy clashed over interests in Libya, particularly the work of their companies in the oil and gas sector, they may reach an agreement. If a political solution is not reached to conserve the interests of all players, the Syrian model will be duplicated in Libya whereas each power will deploy forces in its bailiwick," Dawy says.

"It is noted that European factories operate by the light oil of Libya. Thus, if the LNA controls eastern Libya housing the majority of oil fields, the countries currently backing Turkey will rush to broker a political solution so they would maintain their interests in Libyan oil," the writer adds.

Earlier this week, the Italian minister of foreign affairs has been in a visit to Tripoli where he asserted the necessity of a ceasefire, arms ban, foreign intervention in the country, and a political solution praising the

"The LNA and its allies, who are Egypt, UAE, Russia, and France, are very strong and can take over western Libya but it's not about military strength alone. Political acceptance among the Libyan people is crucial, and the majority of the population lives western the country," the regional affairs journalist points out.

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Erdogan: statesman who went rogue while pushing for Turkey ...

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called his US counterpart Donald Trump as often as two times a day and was put through directly to the US president, American news broadcaster CNN said in a report published on Monday.

Citing sources with knowledge of hundreds of confidential telephone calls between Trump and foreign heads of state during his four years in office, CNN said that Erdogan was among the leaders who was most frequently in contact with the American president. He sometimes phoned the White House at least twice a week and was put through directly to the President on standing orders from Trump, CNN said.

The frequency of the calls with Erdogan in which the Turkish president continually pressed Trump for policy concessions and other favors was especially worrisome to McMaster, Bolton and Kelly, the more so because of the ease with which Erdogan bypassed normal National Security Council protocols and procedures to reach the president, CNN said, citing two sources, and referring to national security advisers H.R. McMaster and John Bolton, and White House chief of staff John Kelly.

The same sources indicated that the US president was woefully uninformed over the issues discussed with Erdogan and was unable to engage on equal terms in nuanced policy discussion.

Erdogan took him to the cleaners, CNNs Carl Bernstein quoted a source as telling him, indicating that Erdogan was able to steer policy in Turkeys favor, such as Trumps decision to pull American forces out of Syria, paving the way for Turkeys operation against the Kurds.

Read more:
Turkish President Erdogan 'put through directly' to Trump, CNN reports | Kathimerini - http://www.ekathimerini.com

ISTANBUL: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the closure of a university in Istanbul linked to a rival and former prime minister, according to a decree published Tuesday (Jun 30).

The private Istanbul Sehir University was established in 2008 by a foundation whose founders included ex-premier Ahmet Davutoglu but it became mired in controversy after he quit Mr Erdogan's ruling party in September last year.

Mr Davutoglu set up his Future Party three months later, andexperts say itseeks to peel away voters from Mr Erdogan's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The university first had its assets frozen late last year when an Istanbul court ruled against it in a dispute over payments with Halkbank.

Then control of the university, owned by the Foundation for Sciences and Arts (BISAV), was transferred to Marmara University in December before the state took control of BISAV itself in January by installing trustees.

A presidential decree signed by Mr Erdogan on Monday but published overnight, said the "university's permission to conduct any activities has been withdrawn."

The university was once a beacon for conservatives, heralding what they believed was a new period where secular institutions would not dominate the modern Turkish republic.

Mr Davutoglu was once close to Mr Erdogan and served as foreign minister but the two men fell out over multiple issues and he was forced to resign as premier in May 2016.

Read more:
Turkey's Erdogan shuts down university linked to rival - CNA

Jun 26, 2020

A Turkish court on June 19 bannedaccess to content in a title on The Sour Dictionary, one of the most popularsocial media platformsinTurkey. That title is Emine Erdogans Purse. It's about a notorious handbag that cost some $50,000, and it has become a symbol of public criticism of the lavish lifestyle of the presidents family and palace life. The court has banned reader access to more than 200,000 entrieson The Sour Dictionary.

There is an intriguing pattern in Turkey'spolitical scene. State oppression on freedom of expression and access to information is worsening. All the while, public chatterparticularly from the ruling Justice and Development Partys (AKP) conservative base, who are mostly small-business ownersis increasingly critical. The recent events increased the visibility of fast-brewing social tension. Even the AKPs most loyal supporters are asking where the money is or, in other words,is this how state funds are being spent?

On June 15, a donation campaign led to street protests and clashes between AKP supporters and security forces in Ankara. After the 2016 failed coup attempt, Recep Tayyip Erdogan had declared that all of those who lost their lives were martyrs, and all of those who were wounded were veterans.These terms not only have religious connotations but also financial payoffssuch asmonthly salaries. Normally reserved for active duty soldiers or security personnel, the titles, benefitsand salaries are structured accordingly.

After the coup attempt,Erdogan said these martyrs and veterans are my real siblings. Anyone who hurts them should know that they will have to answer to me. And it was Binali Yildirim, then prime minister, who announced,Anyone with even a nail scratched on July 15 will be considered a veteran. The campaign raised more than 300 million Turkish liras, which became 339 million Turkish liras in December 2019 at the bank with interest, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay announced.

On June 8, after months of negotiations and delays, a group of veterans began a protest in Ankara over why they still hadnot obtained proper official veteran statusand had notbeen given the money they were promised four years ago.

On June 15, reportedly based on a tip that Erdogan was in the building, theymarched in front of AKP headquarters in Ankara. Their chants were harsh. Some included,Soylu (Interior Minister)come here,""The center of the Gulen terror organization is here (pointing to AKP headquarters),and Traitors and crooks. Police brutallycharged at the veterans.

In an attempt to discredit the protesters, some AKP trolls posted tweets that the protesters were not real veterans but Gulen movement members.

A day after the protests, ultranationalist Good Partys proposal forimmediate payment to theveterans was shot down by AKP and Nationalist Movement Partyvotes. And after speaking with the interior minister, protesters decided to stand down.

A senior AKP bureaucrat told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity that these people are like the Janissaries of Erdogan. Now they are flipping their cauldrons and threatening the government to meet their demands. Turning their big pots upside down was how Ottoman soldiers signaled their unhappiness to the sultan.

The senior bureaucrat added, On the night of the coup, these people organized through WhatsApp chat rooms to defend Erdogan. There are now about 2,700 who were promised benefits and pay. Only about 250 to 300, I believe, received proper payoff. About 1,500 of the veterans or their immediate family members have been provided government jobs. The bureaucrat was candid that unrealistic promises were made to these men. "It will be more difficult to find martyrs for Erdogan next time around, he joked.

Although negotiations between veterans and government representatives have been ongoing, these men are angry that their rights were blocked by Gulen members still in the government. The government has beenquite worried about their protests and tried to dissuade them from taking to the streets. Veterans explained that the officials offered to pay them 1,000 Turkish lira ($146)through the foundation to appease them, butthesizable group that came out to protest refused the offer.

Prominent political analyst and author Levent Gultekin told Al-Monitor he did not view the protest as the Janissaries revolt. I rather see that people who have been devoted Erdogan supporters react emotionally due to their disappointments. They have been pushed to the background as Erdogans alliance with the ultranationalists and other groups expand. Gultekin explained that he views the newly created parties of former top AKP elites as a reflection of this alienation and disappointment. Erdogan is known to turn the tables around on his core supporters conservatives and Muslim Brotherhood sympathizerssuch as those who were victims of theMavi Marmara flotilla. After supporting their cause for years, in 2016 Erdogan abruptly disowned them.

Another problem here is the issue of diminishing resources, which has challenged Erdogans clientelist relations with his base. The idea that the AKP like any other political party is corrupt but is at least getting business done is to a large extent based on the returns these groups received for their loyalty and, as Gultekin emphasized, the publics lack of trust toward the alternatives. Now,these returns are not trickling down and there are alternatives. Opposition mayors are transparent in their budgets. They take pride in being accountable and broadcast live their decision-making gatherings.

There were big promises made right after the coup attempt and during the transition into the presidential system, and now unfulfilled expectations are generating frustration. Disillusionment leads to louder demands to know where all the government funds are being spent.

Gultekin attributes the indifference of the AKP base to significant corruption allegations to the polarization in the country. The base believes these are exaggerated claims. However, on minor issues such as a fee on plastic bags, which hits their own interests directly, there is an outcry. Erdogan must be aware of the growing discontent in April, banks provided credit for over 300,000small-business owners.

These types of public outbursts and clashes with police are rare ruptures in the AKPs voter base, but times are changing. Today, even the most dedicated AKP members whisper jokes about the lavish Palace lifestyle and the infamous purse in friendly circles.

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Erdogans most loyal supporters want to know where the money is - Al-Monitor

ANKARA, Turkey Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday that he has reached agreements with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump that could herald a new era concerning Libya.

Erdogan made the comment in a television interview following a telephone call with the U.S. president, but did not elaborate on the agreements reached.

After our talks on the transition process in Libya, a new era can begin between Turkey and the U.S., Erdogan told state broadcaster TRT. We had some agreements.

Earlier, a statement from his office said Erdogan and Trump had agreed to continue their close cooperation on Libya.

Turkeys support for Libyas U.N.-supported government in Tripoli has helped shift the balance in the country, allowing the Tripoli-based forces to retake the capitals airport and gain the upper hand against the rival east-based forces, led by Khalifa Hifter.

Hifters forces are backed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia. The Tripoli-based government receives aid from Qatar, Italy and Turkey, which stepped up its military support in recent months.

Erdogan said he would soon also discuss the situation in Libya with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

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Originally posted here:
Erdogan says Turkey, US reached agreements on Libya - Military Times