JCC - Turkish Council of Advisors. Chair: Julien Brinson

Transcription

1 JCC - Turkish Council of Advisors Chair: Julien Brinson

2 Table of Contents Letter from the Chair 3 The Political Situation in Turkey 4 The Coup 4 The Syrian Civil War 4 Operation Euphrates Shield 5 The Conflict with the Kurds 6 Operation Olive Branch 7 Key Questions: 8 List of positions 9 Turkish Cabinet Members 9 Turkish Parliament Majority Members 12 Turkish Parliament Opposition Members 13 Pro-Turkey Syrians 15 Helpful sites 17 Sources: 18 2

3 Letter from the Chair Hello, My name is Julien Brinson, and I am delighted to be your chair for PacMUN. This is my second year chairing a committee at PacMUN and my 8th year doing Model United Nations. During my illustrious career with MUN, I have been captain of the Stanford Model UN team and served as President of the Society for International Affairs at Stanford. At Stanford, I m currently studying computer science with a concentration in robotics. I was born and raised in the metro area of Atlanta, Ga so some people tell me I have a Southern accent (I ll let y all decide). I watch entirely too much TV. Some of my favorites now are Empire, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Atlanta, Once Upon a Time, Suits, The Walking Dead, Gotham, Flash, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, Luke Cage, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and two shows relevant to our committee, Da Vinci s Demons and the Borgias. Also, if you can t tell, I really love superhero everything comics, TV shows, and movies. I also watch more than my fair share of Anime as well. One Piece is my favorite current show, and Code Geass, Hunter X Hunter, Gundam Seed, Death Note, and Attack on Titan are some of my all-time favorites. I could keep talking about superheroes, anime and TV all day but I should probably tell y all about the committee. We are going to be simulating the cabinet of Turkey. Turkey has probably the most complicated position in the Syrian conflict--except for maybe Syrians themselves. I strongly encourage you to use this background guide as merely a springboard for your further research. I look forward to your dynamic and informed debate in committee. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions--or just want to talk about anime, comics or superheroes! Let s get down to business! Julien Brinson jdbrinson@cs.stanford.edu 3

4 The Political Situation in Turkey The Coup The deadly coup attempt in July 2016 marked a monumental turning point in Turkey s political history. On July 15, 2016 a section of the Turkish military launched a coordinated operation in several major cities to topple the government and unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Soldiers and tanks were in the streets. Bombs rang out in Ankhara and Istanbul and Turkish fighter jets dropped bombs on their own parliament. On the brink of military victory, ordinary citizens, armed with kitchen utensils, gathered in the streets and squares around Anatolia to oppose the coup. The crowds squared off with the tanks and with the help of loyalist soldiers and police forces, they defeated the coup attempt in a matter of hours. Following the coup, the Turkish government placed thousands of suspects under arrest including military officials, pilots, police officers, civil servants, academics and teachers. Turkish-European Union relations took a hit, because the EU accuses Erdogan of using the coup attempt as an excuse to eliminate the opposition. Despite the pervasive crackdown on dissent, many in Turkey still support the president. Erdogan improved infrastructure and helped seismically transform the country economy, boosting millions out of poverty. Religious conservatives value his promotion of piety. The Syrian Civil War Turkey has watched the deteriorating situation in Syria with growing alarm. Currently more than 3.5 million people displaced by the violence in Syria have sought refuge in Turkey. Every day there are approximately 1,000 more people. Turkey, as a major regional actor in the conflict, has continued to work with the Syrian Peace Process. Russia, Turkey and Iran have continued to have many peace talks at Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Despite relatively friendly relations with Syria during the decade preceding the Syrian Civil War, Turkey condemned Bashar Assad for his violent crackdown on protests in 2011 and joined a host of other nations in calling for Assad s resignation. Turkish intelligence aided and supervised the Free Syrian Army in 2011 and offered the group a base of operations. In conjunction with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Turkey has also provided the Syrian rebels with arms and other military 4

5 equipment. In June 2012, Syrian forces shot down a Turkish fighter jet and border clashes erupted later year severely worsening the relations between Turkey and Syria. DAESH, s hort for Dawlat al-islamiyah f'al-iraq wa al-sham (known in the US as ISIS), has been largely militarily defeated, because of Turkey s direct and sustained engagement. DAESH has been unable to regroup because of the dedicated work of a coalition that includes Turkey, which maintains the largest no-entry list of foreign terrorist fighters and runs the world s biggest civilian anti-daesh security operation. Operation Euphrates Shield Using the guidelines established by Article 51 of the United Nations (UN) Charter, Turkey exercised its right of self-defense and declared to the international community the launch of Opoeration Euphrates Shield (OES) on August 24, OES was one of the most comprehensive cross-border operations by the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) in the history of the Republic. Turkey s main objective was to eliminate DAESH along the Turkish border. On March 29, 2017, the Turkish military officially announced that OES was successfully completed. Turkey currently controls 3,460 square-kilometers of area in Northern Syria. 5

6 The Conflict with the Kurds There is a deep-seated hostility between the Turkish state and Turkish Kurds. Kurds received harsh treatment at the hands of the Turkish authorities for generations. In response to uprisings in the 1920s and 1930s, many Kurds were resettled, Kurdish names and costumes were banned, the use of the Kurdish language was restricted, and even the existence of the Kurdish ethnic identity was denied, with people designated Mountain Turks. In 1978, Abdullah Ocalan established the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which called for an independent state with Turkey. Since 1984, the PKK has waged an insurgency against Turkish authorities for greater cultural and political rights that has resulted in nearly forty thousands deaths. Their primary objective has been to establish an independent Kurdish state. There are approximately thirty million Kurds living in the Middle East and they constitute approximately one-fifth of Turkey s population. 6

7 The war in Syria has only inflamed relations between the Kurds and the Turkish government. In July 2015, a two-year cease-fire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed after a suicide bombing by suspected DAESH militants killed nearly thirty Kurds near the Syrian border. The PKK accused the Turkish forces of not doing enough to prevent the attack against Kurdish civilians. Syrian Kurds have been on the front lines fighting against DAESH and have formed a semi-autonomous region in Northern Syria. In Iraq, armed fighters protecting Kurds there known as the Peshmerga have joined with Iraqi security forces and received arms and financial assistance from the United States. PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has called for mass mobilization among Kurds to start an all-out resistance in the fight against DAESH. Secessionist movements in other Kurdish areas of the Middle East, including Turkey would be emboldened by a successful Kurdish state in Syria. Operation Olive Branch In January 2018, the Turkish military launched an offensive against the Kurdish-led Democratic Union Party in Syria (PYD), it s armed wing People s Protection Units (YPG), and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) positions around the Syrian city of Afrin. The Turkish-backed forces took control of Afrin city on March 18, The Turkish government designates both the PKK and the Syrian YPG as indistinguishable terrorist organizations. The United States recognizes the PKK as a terrorist organization but the US does not recognize the YPG as such. The United States supports the YPG and SDF and wants to equip 30,000 SDF forces which poses a threat to Turkey s national security. 7

8 Key Questions: 1. How does Turkey navigate the relationship between its NATO allies, Russia, and Iran in the Syrian conflict? 2. How does Turkey manage the Syrian refugee crisis? 3. What is the optimal resolution of the Syrian conflict for Turkey? 4. What is the optimal resolution of the conflict with the Kurds for Turkey? 8

9 List of positions Turkish Cabinet Members Binali Yıldırım Speaker of the Assembly, Former PM A long-time politician with a background in shipping, Binali Yildirim has been a steadfast presence in the Turkish AKP party, at times serving as its leader. Yildirim was first elected in 2002 and served as the Minister of Transportation, Maritime and Communications. He served as Senior Advisor to Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister in He is a strong supporter of President Erdogan and has at times yielded power to the president to facilitate his ambitions. Yildirim is a respected veteran of the AKP and his policies and actions will tend to reflect this. Hulusi Akar Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar is the current Minister of National Defense and a former four-star general who has served in many NATO engagements and at times commanded Turkey's Land Forces and served as Deputy Chief of General Staff. He was awarded the Courage and Self-Sacrifice medal for extraordinary service. In the attempted 2016 coup, Akar was taken hostage and pressured to declare martial law but refused and was rescued shortly. He is the first active-duty Minister of National Defense in Turkey's history. Tuğrul Türkeş Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Turkes is a long-time politician who defected from the MHP party to join the AKP party in He served as the Deputy Prime Minister until 2017 and has been involved in several scandals, from meeting secretly with President Erdogan, allegations of corruption and blackmail. While his father was a founder of the MHP party, Turkes has at times founded his own party or joined the opposition. His true allegiances are difficult to ascertain, 9

10 Veysi Kaynak Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak served as the Deputy Prime Minister until He has been active in politics for quite some time, starting as a municipal councilor, a mayor and a member of parliament. He previously served as the Deputy Minister of Justice and leads an anti-corruption organization. Despite this, he has been implicated in committing ballot fraud in parliamentary elections and introduced controversial legislation that would make it easier for political officials to circumvent existing prison sentences. Bekir Bozdag Minister of Justice Bekir Bozdag was the Minister of Justice until 2017, when he became a Deputy Prime Minister. He has served in parliament since 2002 with the AKP party and has a background in law. Ömer Çelik European Union Minister and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik was the Minister of Culture and Tourism until taking on the mantle of the Minister of European Affairs, leading him to become the Chief Negotiator with the European Union. His most prominent responsibility is negotiating matters of Turkish ascension with the European Union. He has voiced strong interest in joining the EU but criticizes Germany's negative attitudes towards Turkish membership, especially regarding freedom of speech and the rule of law Faruk Ozlu Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Ozlu is the current Minister of Science, Industry and Technology. Prior to his political career, he was involved extensively with Turkey's defense industry, assisting in the production of Turkey's first domestically produced tank and warship, among other projects involving military weaponry. As the Minister of Science, Industry and Technology, he has promoted the importance of Turkish productive self-sufficiency and has continued to support the production of military hardware. He has an extensive background in engineering and has been involved in countless military projects, at home and abroad. 10

11 Mevlüt Cavusoglu Minister of Foreign Affairs A founding member of the AKP party, Mevlut Cavusoglu is the current Minister Foreign Affiars. He has served in Parliament since 2002 and has been placed on many prestigious assemblies and committees. He is an ardent supporter of the leading AKP party, causing controversy with his alleged disruption of local elections. A founding member of the AKP, his ideology strongly aligns with many of the tenets of the ruling party and he has supported the 2017 referendum. His attempts to advocate for the referendum in Europe have been met poorly, with the Netherlands denying him landing rights, citing concerns over public safety. Nihat Zeybekci Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci is the current Minister of Economy and a member of the ruling AKP party. He began his political career as the mayor of Denizli, where he served for 7 years before resigning to run for parliament. He assumed his current position in 2013, succeeding the previous Minister, who had been implicated in the 2013 corruption scandal. He has a strong relationship with President Erdogan and has emphasized the importance of economic growth, often leading to criticisms of ignoring cautionary signs of poor economic health. Berat Albayrak Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak was appointed to be the Minister of Energy and National Resources in 2015, his first year in parliament. He has supported consolidation between utilities, overseeing a period of expansion and acquisition. His allegedly lax oversight of energy businesses, including refusal to raise caps on energy prices, have led to opponents accusing him of contributed towards the decline of the Turkish lira in Prior to serving in government, he was the CEO of a major Turkish energy and mining company. He is the son-in-law of President Erdogan. 11

12 Bülent Tüfenkci Minister of Customs and Trade Bulent Tufenkci is the Minister of Customs and Trade. He was elected to Parliament in 2015, where he was quickly appointed to his current role. He has a background in law with a focus on customs law. He has continued protectionist policies regarding agriculture and pharmaceuticals, using tariffs to discourage foreign competition in these sectors. Under his ministry, Turkey continues to impose opaque and lengthy processes for appealing tariffs, leading to spill over into sectors such as apparel, ecommerce and medical hardware. However, more broadly, he has signaled continued interest in free trade aligned with the WTO and the EU. Efkan Ala Minister of Interior Efkan Ala was the Minister of the Interior until 2016, when he resigned due to criticism over his inability to manage attacks launched by the Kurdish Worker's Party, the Gulen Movement and the Islamic State against Turkey. He has been involved in politics since 1988, at times serving as Governor, Undersecretary and Member of Parliament. During his tenure as the Minister of the Interior, he was involved in appointing several Governors, police chiefs and other security bureaucrats with varying success. Turkish Parliament Majority Members Ayşe Nur Bahçekapılı Deputy Speaker Elected in 2007, Ayse Nur Bahcekapili is a Deputy Speaker for the majority AKP party. She has a background in law and has extensive experience and involvement with the Turkish Bar Association. She was initially the President of the Social Democrat Populist Party before switching to the AKP. As one of the Deputy Speakers, Bahcekapili is involved in judicating debates in Parliament. She is a supporter of female empowerment and has been involved at times in Turkish foreign relations. 12

13 Ahmet Aydın Deputy Speaker Ahmet Aydin is a Deputy Speaker for the majority AKP party. He has served in the 23rd, 24th and 25th Turkish Parliaments, becoming Deputy Speaker in his most recent term. He has a background in law and engineering, having worked previously as a lawyer and a radiology technician in a hospital. He has been a member of the AKP party since the start of his service and is well-connected among the MPs. He often forgoes his own beliefs to impartially moderate debate on legislation, but in past terms has espoused a need for a stronger state security apparatus. Turkish Parliament Opposition Members Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Leader of the Opposition Kemal Kilicdaroglu is leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and has been the Leader of the Opposition since He began his political career as an MP in 2002 and succeeded the prior leader of the CHP in He has been outspoken in his criticism against President Erdogan's policies of suppressing free speech, jailing journalists and academics and changing the judiciary. He strongly opposed the 2017 Constitutional Referendum, which expanded Erdogan's power significantly. He has supported the deportation of Syrian refugees from Turkey, labeling them as an economic burden on Turkey's well-being. Sebahat Tuncel MP, Honorary President of the Peoples' Democratic Party Sebahat Tuncel is an MP and an honorary President of the HDP. She was jailed in 2006 due to involvement with the Kurdistan Worker's Party, but was subsequently elected from prison in She is the youngest woman in the Turkish Parliament and has worked with many international organizations to support refugees and displaced people. Prior to a career in politics, she served as a nurse. Woman's empowerment continues to be a strong tenet of her political platform. She has voiced opposition to the treatment of Syrian refugees and Kurdish minorities by the ruling party. 13

14 Ertuğrul Kürkçü MP, Honorary President of the Peoples' Democratic Party Ertugrul Kurkcu is an MP and an honorary President of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). Kurkcu's political advocacy began with his participation in the 1968 protests and had previously attempted to kidnap NATO technicians to bargain for a death row inmate. He has been a staunch advocate of freedom of speech and is an avowed socialist. He founded the Freedom and Solidarity party and is a strong critic of the current ruling party. Sezai Temelli Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party Sezai Temelli is a Chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and was previously a MP, although he lost his seat in He previously lectured on the intersection of public policy, political science and finance at Istanbul University. He is a staunch advocate of democracy, minority rights and egalitarianism and is outspoken is his criticism of President Erdogan's coercive censorship of Turkish academics and free speech. Pervin Buldan Deputy Speaker, Chairwoman of the Peoples' Democratic Party Pervin Buldan is a Chairwoman of the HDP and an MP. Her career in politics began after her husband, a businessman allegedly supporting the Kurdish Worker's Party, was killed in a series of government-induced vigilante attacks. She founded Yakay-Der to help support other families going through similar struggles. During her tenure, she gained experience in protests and public service. She ran for Parliament in 2007 with Igdir but has since transitioned to being a co-leader of the HDP. Meral Akşener Leader of the Iyi Party Meral Aksener is the Leader of the Iyi Party. She previously served as the Minister of the Interior and represented the Nationalist Movement Party until her split. Prior to entering politics, she was a university department chair and lectured about history. She espouses center-right beliefs that emphasize the importance of a fair government, advocating for an independent judiciary and a return to the parliamentary system. Other policies she backs includes women's rights, animal rights, joining the EU and remaining in NATO. 14

15 Akif Hamzaçebi Deputy Speaker Akif Hamzacebi is a Deputy Speaker and member of the CHP. He has served in Parliament since 2002 but had previously worked within the Ministry of Finance as the Treasurer of Istanbul. His background in economics has afforded him many prominent roles within the CHP regarding budgetary policy. He has largely opposed the economic policies of the Erdogan government as reckless and inefficient. Devlet Bahçeli MP, Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli has served as the Chairman of the MHP since 1997 and was Deputy Prime Minister in Prior to entering politics, he was a lecturer of economics at Gazi University. He strongly believes in the importance of the unity of the Turkish state and the possibility of a pro-islamic governmental structure. Bahceli has fought ferociously against the Kurdish HDP, which he perceives as a threat to conservative government and Turkish unity. He has largely been responsible for toning down the MHP's extremer nationalist views. Pro-Turkey Syrians Ali Ashawi Leader of the Free Police Ali Ashawi is the Leader of the Turkish-backed Free Police and fights against Kurdish expansion in Syria. Ashawi previously served under the Turkish military, where he was distinguished for his courage and valor. He is a staunch nationalist and strongly supports policies and actions that benefit the Turkish people. His anti-kurdish sentiments have caused controversy, with opponents calling for him to step down in favor of a more impartial leader, but he has largely ignored his critics. 15

16 Yabla Berri Representative of the Free Syrian Army Yabla Berri is a representative of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loosely-controlled group of fighters in Syria opposing Bashar al-assad. Berri himself represents the more moderate branch of the FSA, prioritizing the deposition of the Assad government and opposed to hardline Islamist groups seeking to remake the state of Syria. He is eager to maintain cordial relationships with the Turkish administration to continue military training and arms shipments to support his group's war efforts and sees the partnership with Turkey and the political ramifications as needed to unify the FSA and overthrow Assad. Ahrar al-shariqiya Representative of the Free Syrian Army Ahrar al-shariqiya is a representative of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loosely-controlled group of fighters in Syria opposing Bashar al-assad. al-shariqiya represents a more ideological branch of the FSA, opposing the Assad government on political and religious grounds. He is eager to maintain cordial relationships with the Turkish administration to continue military training and arms shipments to support his group's war efforts and sees the partnership with Turkey and the political ramifications as needed to unify the FSA and overthrow Assad. 16

17 Helpful sites A succinct but thorough explanation of the war s past and present: Frequently updated maps of who controls what in Syria: html A timeline of the Syrian Civil War: A simple but helpful guide to the principle combatants: 17

18 Sources: med-kurdish-groups