“Podle posledních statistik přesáhl počet obětí, které syrský konflikt doposud zapříčinil, výrazně sedmdesát tisíc. Toto číslo spolu s počtem utečenců, kterých je v Turecku, Jordánsku a Libanonu okolo 750 tisíc představuje dostatečný důvod pro nazvání situace v Sýrii pojmem “humanitární katastrofa”.”Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki, Deputy Director at GPoT Center, attended the first of two seminars as part of the United Nations Group of Friends of Mediation Spanish-Moroccan Initiative. The seminar, entitled “Mediation in the Mediterranean: Developing Capacities and Synergies” took place in Madrid 11-12 February 2013.
The Spanish-Moroccan initiative on Mediation in the Mediterranean aims to give support to the UN efforts to strengthen the role of mediation in conflict resolution. The initial seminar, organized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairstogether with Cooperation and the Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax) in Madrid, invited representatives from various international institutions, non-governmental organizations, academia, and experts on mediation, in total from 26 countries. The seminar engaged with questions about the ways in which mediation capacities can be enhanced in the Mediterranean, such as through increased cooperation at an international, regional, and local level.
Dr. Tiryaki participated as a speaker during the seminar’s second session on the role of national and local mediation actors and their capacity of coordination with others. The session addressed questions of the salient needs for local mediators today and the most effective way of developing their capacities, and the best mechanisms for cooperation between local and other levels of mediation during different phases of a conflict.
Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki, Deputy Director at GPoT Center, attended the first of two seminars as part of the United Nations Group of Friends of Mediation Spanish-Moroccan Initiative. The seminar, entitled “Mediation in the Mediterranean: Developing Capacities and Synergies” took place in Madrid 11-12 February 2013.
The Spanish-Moroccan initiative on Mediation in the Mediterranean aims to give support to the UN efforts to strengthen the role of mediation in conflict resolution. The initial seminar, organized by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairstogether with Cooperation and the Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax) in Madrid, invited representatives from various international institutions, non-governmental organizations, academia, and experts on mediation, in total from 26 countries. The seminar engaged with questions about the ways in which mediation capacities can be enhanced in the Mediterranean, such as through increased cooperation at an international, regional, and local level.
Dr. Tiryaki participated as a speaker during the seminar’s second session on the role of national and local mediation actors and their capacity of coordination with others. The session addressed questions of the salient needs for local mediators today and the most effective way of developing their capacities, and the best mechanisms for cooperation between local and other levels of mediation during different phases of a conflict.
“The majority of Turkish Cypriots favor Nicos Anastasiades, the leader of Greek Cyprus’ main opposition party, the Democratic Rally (DISY), in the upcoming presidential elections in Greek Cyprus.
The elections in Greek Cyprus will be held on Feb.17. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent in the first round, there will be a second round held on Feb. 24.”
……
“‘I believe that Anastasiades should win. He is a right-wing oriented leader who has some healthy ideas about future cooperation between Turkey and Greek Cyprus. If Anastasiades is successful, Turkey will have a leader it can talk to in Greek Cyprus. Anastasiades is a figure who will negotiate,’ Sylvia Tiryaki, an expert on the Cyprus issue and the deputy director of the İstanbul-based Global Political Trends Center, told Sunday’s Zaman.”
To read the whole article click here.
“EU leaders meeting in Brussels this week are to consider austerity measures that could reduce the EU’s foreign aid spending by 11% in the 2014-2020 budget, while several EU nations are likely to miss their aid commitments to disadvantaged nations.”
“Sylvia Tiryaki, the vice-chairwoman of Istanbul Kültür University’s international relations department, said Turkey was increasingly active in overseas development not just through foreign aid, but via non-governmental and charity organizations.
‘One of the reasons is that Turkey itself is becoming richer and the economic situation here is much better than it is in other countries, so we can afford it,’ Tiryaki said in an interview from Ankara.
Turkey’s help to Egypt following the Arab spring, as well as in fragileSomalia, has been designed to bring political and economic stability in regions close to Turkey, because ‘poverty breeds radicalism’, she said.”
To read the whole article click here.
“According to a EurActiv analysis of aid statistics, EU candidate Turkey and South Korea have been increasing aid programmes for poor nations at a time when such spending in Europe is under threat.”
“Turkey and South Korea figure among a handful of nations that are giving more to help poor countries at a time when the traditional heavy-hitters – the EU, Japan and the United States – are struggling with domestic budgetary problems and are on course to scale back their overseas commitments.”
“Sylvia Tiryaki, vice chairwoman of Istanbul Kültür University’s international relations department, said Turkey was increasingly active in overseas development not just through foreign aid, but though non-governmental and charity organisations.”
“One of the reasons is that Turkey itself is becoming richer and the economical situation here is much better than it is in other countries, so we can afford it,’ Tiryaki said in an interview from Ankara. The country, she added, is ‘undoubtedly a regional player and would look to see itself is a global player in future.”
“‘Turkey’s help to Egypt following the Arab spring and in fragile Somalia are designed to bring political and economic stability in Turkey’s back yard, because ‘poverty breeds radicalism,’ she said.”
To read the whole article click here.
“Sylvia Tiryaki, an expert in international law and the deputy director of the İstanbul-based Global Political Trends Center, emphasized that public diplomacy means are equally important for Turkey in terms of gaining prestige as a soft power. Despite affirming Turkey’s mediation efforts as a long-term investment in its future relations, Tiryaki claimed that only state-to-state initiatives would not be enough to make Turkey a global soft power.”
To read the whole article click here.
By Erisa Dautaj | SES European Times
“For the time being, Greek Cypriots are in a stronger position, given gas and oil exploration,” Sylvia Tiryaki, deputy director of the Global Political Trends Centre at Istanbul Kultur University, told SETimes. “The water and electricity project will create some balance for the northern [part of the island].”
To read the whole article by Erisa Dautaj, visit SETimes.com.
Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki spoke about Turkey and the EU in an interview for Týždeň, a Slovak weekly. The interview entitled ‘Discussion about taboo cured Turkey’ (Diskusie o tabu Turecko ozdravili) was published in the section ‘Turkey without Europe’ (Turecko bez Europy).
You can read the interview in Slovak language here.
On October 22-23, 2012, Dr. Sylvia Tiryaki participated in the conference “Support to
Armenia-Turkey Rapprochement (SATR) Project: Highlights and Prospects”. The goal of the conference held in Istanbul was to prepare grounds for stakeholders in Armenia and Turkey to pick up and capitalize on the achievements of the SATR project.
A two-day conference brought together more than 60 participants from SATR Consortium members and SATR key local and international partners in Armenia and Turkey, as well as representatives of the Turkish and Armenian civil society and expert community who were not directly engaged in the SATR project, and representatives of the US Missions in Armenia and Turkey. The participants summarized project achievements and lessons learned, discussed further strengthening of the established partnerships and future joint programming, and addressed current and future potential of non-state actors in promoting Armenia-Turkey normalization.
As a Deputy Director of GPoT Center, member of the project’s multi-partner Consortium, Dr. Tiryaki presented achievements and lessons learned from SATR’s support activities to media cooperation between Armenia and Turkey during the session on the first day. SATR project, lasting from October 2010 until October 2012, aimed at supporting Armenia-Turkey rapprochement through developing of new business partnerships and regional professional networks, engaging civil society in alliance-building to further contribute to Armenia-Turkey normalization, and establishing a favorable environment for state-to-state dialogue and interaction.