Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
I'm at a forum on Turkey @ Brookings. Came 2 see Soli Ozel. Funny 2 be back after so long.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Whole ME prog @ Brkngs was colonized by Martin Indyk & Haim Saban a long time ago
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Umit Boyner, the female head of the Turkish Assocn of Biz & Industry, spking abt econ. Impressive. Both her & th Turkish econ.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Turkish business was able 2 move into large parts of fmrly Soviet econ space in past 20 yrs.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
... In both E Europe & Central Asia. That & its highly developed human & infrastructural resources allowd T econ really 2 take off.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
U. Boyner noted that T's per-capita GDP to double in past 10 yrs. Growth still = strong, while W Europe has faltered.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Of course, ppl here v. sad abt th losses in earthquake in Van. U. Boyner also mentiond T's losses fm recent PKK attacks.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Noting wryly that T has gone fromseeking 'zero probs w neighbors' to having 'zero neighbors w/out probs'.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Soli O now talkng abt #turkey's switch twd Syria. Says that earlier outreach to Asad regime was a most imptt part of policy.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
But then, Ankara decided 2 reclibrate a lot & gave more supp 2 opposn in Syr...
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Then, Soli talkd a bit abt #turkey's relns w Israel & mentioned th Trbled Triangle book. http://t.co/5HO7c0lb
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Gr8 line fm Soli O when askd abt the Cypriot prob & its effect on #turkey's relns w Europe...
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Soli on Turkish-Irn relns: reminds that 700,000 Turkish trucks transit Iran every yr enroute 2 markets in C. Asia, etc etc...
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Soli O likens T-Iran relns 2 dictum of Godfather: keep yr fds close & yr enemies closer...
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Umit Boyner notes re T-Isr relns that despite probs that 'our govts' have created, trade continues at same level.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Umit B notes that Syria had been v. imptt 4 #turkey. True. Imptt cuz of S's role as gateway 2 other mkts.
Helena Cobban
@helenacobban
Soli O making gd pt that 3 yrs of no-visa entry 2 Turkey prolly played some role in spurring pro-democ movemt in Syr.
Rüçhan Kaya
@ruchankaya
US donors can help to provide relief to victims of the earthquake in #Turkey via @tphilanthropy tinyurl.com/5sfb2xz
Chris
@Media_Chris
Great to see people being pulled from the rubble alive in #Turkey. True determination and admirable spirit to survive this horrible tragedy.
