RUSSIAN PUNDITS WARY OF ANKARA’S REVIVED GEOPOLITICAL AMBITIONS IN EURASIA

The Jamestown Foundation (Eurasia Daily Monitor) ^ | September 22, 2006 | Igor Torbakov

[sergey1973]

The suggestion to form a Turkish commonwealth among Turkic-speaking countries voiced at the recent gathering of leaders of Turkic states in Turkey’s seaside resort city of Antalya appears to reflect Ankara’s desire to strengthen its economic and political positions in Eurasia. Moscow should not treat Turkey’s growing geopolitical ambitions lightly, some Russian analysts say.

On September 18-20, the 10th Turkic States and Communities’ Friendship and Cooperation Congress took place at the posh hotel complex on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the Turkic Convention brought together top policymakers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as well as delegates representing the Turkic territories of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova -- Chuvashia, Khakassia, Altai region, North Caucasus, Crimea, and Gagauzia.

“Turkic summits” were the brainchild of the late visionary Turkish leader Turgut Ozal. Ozal, prime minister and then president of Turkey from 1983 until his death in 1993, entertained a sweeping project that included a vibrant Turkic Common Market and a powerful Turkic Trade and Development Bank. A “Turkish model,” based on Turkey’s imperfect but seemingly workable market economy and somewhat restrictive parliamentary democracy, was offered to the post-Soviet states as a roadmap for their transition.

[sergey1973]

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[bruinbirdman]

"Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,..."

What about Kurdistan (northern Iraq)?

yitbos

[Valin]

What about Kurdistan (northern Iraq)?

They are not Turkish.



http://members.aol.com/KHilfsvere/Kurds.html

Language, Religion, and History

The Kurds are, together with the Arabs, Persians, and Armenians, one of the most ancient peoples of the Near East. The country they inhabit is called Kurdistan. The Kurds have their own language, Kurdish. Kurdish is a member of the Indo-European family of languages; like Persian, Afghan, and Beluchi, it is one of the Iranian languages. Kurdish is unrelated to the Arabic or Turkish languages.

[bruinbirdman]

Indo-European = Arian

[Valin]

Yes?

[bruinbirdman]

Do they like Iranians, then?

yitbos

[Valin]

When you get right down to it probably not. What they want is their own country. The problem is they are a small people surronded by large people.

[bruinbirdman]

Small people been fighting Sadam and Turkey for a long time. If someone would quit gassing them and give them some land, it might be a good idea.

yitbos

[weston]

Interesting to see Kyrgyzstan here. They seem to be in a balancing act. US base there. Russian base there. They are part of the SOC (?) the Chinese coalition. Now aligning with their Turkish roots.

I think Kyrgyzstan is the regions new "Switzerland."