A REVIEW OF U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS IN 2016 A REVIEW OF U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS IN 2016
Editor Audrey Williams
Authors Yenal Kucuker Audrey Williams Caysie N. Myers
Design and Layout Maria Jonafe Aguila Table of Contents
President’s Message 5
Timeline 6
Security 8
Humanitarian Aid 14
Economy 18
Energy 22
Education 26
Technology 30
Looking Ahead in 2017 34
COPYRIGHT © January 2017 by Turkish Heritage Organization All rights reserved. Bibliography 36
No part of this publication may be reprinted, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, including photocopy, without permission in writing from About THO 42 the Turkish Heritage Organization. A full-text PDF of this report is available for free download from www.turkheritage.org. The THO Team 43 For permission requests, write to:
Turkish Heritage Organization 1250 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 202 Washington, D.C. 20036
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Cover design: Maria Jonafe Aguila, THO A MESSAGE FROM THO’S PRESIDENT
2016 was a difficult year for U.S.-Turkey relations. Critical domestic and regional developments created tensions between the strategic allies. At Turkish Heritage Organization (THO), we strongly believe that times like these highlight the importance of fostering deep and comprehensive dialogue in order to strengthen the relationship between Washington and Ankara.
In 2016, THO focused on implementing education and outreach programs in Washington, D.C. We partnered with leading think tanks, universities, and nonprofit organizations to provide a unique platform for exploring critical issues in the U.S.-Turkey relationship. We organized public events, interviewed experts, and produced timely and independent research and analysis.
At a time when we noticed that Washington think tanks were discussing the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey without providing a platform for diverse Turkish voices, THO invited high-ranking and prominent individuals from Turkey – including a former chief of the general staff and an award- winning journalist – to Washington to help broaden the discussion. Similarly, at the height of the Syrian refugee crisis, THO created unique opportunities in Washington for engagement with prominent Turkish, American, and Syrian individuals who work on this critical humanitarian issue, including the president of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD).
As an organization with Turkish-American roots and broad diaspora networks, THO aims to support a strong partnership between the U.S. and Turkey by fostering a better understanding between the people of both countries. THO strongly believes that supporting constructive dialogue that is inclusive of multiple backgrounds and perspectives is especially important during times of rising anti-American sentiment in Turkey and anti-Turkish sentiment in the U.S. This type of dialogue is key to maintaining shared values and strategic interests between Turkey and the U.S.
We hope this 2016 review of six areas in the U.S.-Turkey relationship will be an informative component of this dialogue. This report lays out key 2016 developments in the areas of security, humanitarian aid, economy, energy, education, and technology. It concludes with perspectives on how U.S.- Turkey relations can be strengthened in each of these areas in the coming year.
We believe that it is crucial for the U.S. and Turkey to overcome recent challenges in their bilateral relationship in 2017. Our aim is to continue to build upon and expand our current programming in the coming year by encouraging and facilitating dialogue that is independent of any political orientation and supports the strengthening of U.S.-Turkey relations.
Ali Cinar THO President
5 2016 IN SUMMARY
Security Economy Education
Humanitarian Aid Energy Technology JANUARY MARCH 13 MARCH 31 - APRIL 1 Turkey imports liquefied A TAK bombing kills 37 The fourth Nuclear natural gas (LNG) from people in central Ankara. Security Summit is held the U.S. for the first time. in Washington, D.C. The shipment totaled 83 million cubic meters. MARCH 18 MARCH 31 The EU and Turkey agree 4.5G mobile data on a deal to halt migration becomes available in across the Aegean Sea Turkey. from Turkey to Greece.
AUGUST 24 AUGUST 1 LATE JULY JULY 20 JULY 8 - 9 JUNE 27 MAY 23 - 24 LATE APRIL Turkey launches General Joseph Dunford, The U.S. State Department S&P downgrades Turkey’s The annual NATO Summit Turkey and Israel sign The first World The U.S. State Department Operation Euphrates the Chairman of the Joint suspends the Fulbright credit rating to BB with is held in Warsaw, Poland. a reconciliation deal. Humanitarian Summit announces that the Shield in northern Syria. Chiefs of Staff of the U.S., English Teaching a negative outlook. is held in Istanbul. Critical Language visits Turkey. Assistantship (ETA) Scholarship’s Summer program in Turkey for the 2016 Turkish program will 2016/17 academic year. JULY 15 JUNE 28 be moved to Azerbaijan. A faction within the A Daesh attack kills 45 AUGUST 24 JULY 21 Turkish Armed Forces people at Ataturk Airport U.S. Vice President A three-month state of (TSK) attempts a coup in Istanbul. Joe Biden visits Turkey. emergency is declared d’etat against Turkey’s in Turkey. democratically elected government.
SEPTEMBER 4 - 5 SEPTEMBER 13 - 26 SEPTEMBER 26 SEPTEMBER 30 OCTOBER 3 OCTOBER 10 The annual G20 Summit The 71st UN General The Emergency Social The national parliament The Turkish parliament Russian President Putin is held in Hangzhou, Assembly (UNGA) is Safety Net (ESSN) is of Azerbaijan approves extends the state of and Turkish President China. held in New York. launched in Ankara to the Trans-Anatolian emergency for an Erdogan sign an agree- provide pre-paid cards Natural Gas Pipeline additional three months, ment on the Turkish to one million refugees (TANAP). effective October 19. Stream natural gas in Turkey. pipeline project. SEPTEMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 19 SEPTEMBER 20 SEPTEMBER 23 NATO Secretary General President Obama hosts At the UNGA, President Moody’s downgrades Jens Stoltenberg visits the Leaders’ Summit on Erdogan gives a speech Turkey to Ba1 with a Turkey. Refugees on the sidelines on the need for greater stable outlook. of the UNGA. global support to address the refugee crisis.
DECEMBER 19 DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 2 NOVEMBER 24 NOVEMBER 15 NOVEMBER 7 OCTOBER 27 The Russian ambassador The first Digital Education A Turkish defense electronics systems The EU Parliament passes Turkish and Israeli The Turkish lira declines Turkish Prime Minister Binali to Turkey is assassinated in America Fair is held producer, ASELSAN, signs an R&D a non-binding resolution officials hold their first to 3.1849 against the U.S. Yildirim announces a plan in Ankara. in four Turkish cities agreement with U.S. company Keysight to freeze membership working-level meeting to dollar, passing a previous to offer “specially-designed simultaneously: Istanbul, Technologies to develop 5G mobile talks with Turkey. discuss a possible natural record set in 1981. It incentives” to support Turkey’s Ankara, Izmir, and Adana. communications technology. gas pipeline to carry continues to decrease information and communications Israeli gas to Europe throughout the rest of technology (ITC) sector. via Turkey. 2016 and into 2017. DECEMBER 10 DECEMBER 5 A TAK bombing in Istanbul Turkey launches its second military kills 45 people. satellite, GOKTURK-1, which will be used primarily for military purposes but which will also have civilian uses.
7 SECURITY DID YOU KNOW? 2016 proved to be an extremely challenging year for Turkey’s security and tested its strong legacy of bilateral and NATO defense cooperation with its strategic ally, the United States. In 2016, geo- THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 500 U.S. TROOPS INSIDE SYRIA who are training and advising the coalition of political developments in the Middle East changed Turkey’s security American allies fighting against Daesh, including landscape dramatically, and the country experienced enormous Turkey and the YPG. In 2016, Daesh lost 23% of domestic and regional risks. its territory across Syria and Iraq.
DOMESTIC RISKS THE PKK, A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OFFICIALLY Terrorism RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES AND THE EU, Following a short-lived peace process that ended in July 2015, the has been conducting a violent insurgency conflict between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Turkish campaign in Turkey since 1984. state escalated in 2016.1 While the conflict is concentrated in Turkey’s southeast, it has also ignited a wave of deadly terror attacks carried ABDULLAH OCALAN, THE PKK’S LEADER AND FOUNDER out by the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK) in cities like Istanbul, who is currently in prison in Turkey, was Ankara, and Kayseri. The renewal of this conflict is compounded by enjoying sanctuary in Syria before U.S.- backed Turkey pressured Syria to expel the increasing threat posed by Daesh, which successfully carried him in 1998. out a series of large-scale attacks in Turkey in 2016.2 Two Daesh attacks in particular – one in June that killed 45 people at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and another in August that killed 57 at a wedding in Gaziantep – made it clear that Turkey was facing an unprecedented security threat emanating from Syria that needed to be addressed. Overall, more than 270 people lost their lives in at least 12 major terror attacks in Turkey, making 2016 a year of terror.3
The July 15 Coup Attempt Though the July 15 coup attempt carried out by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) did not succeed, it took a considerable toll on the Turkish nation. According to the Turkish government, the coup attempt was organized by U.S.-based Turkish exile Fethullah Gulen and a group of his followers that the Turkish government has labeled the Fethullah Gulen Terror Organization (FETO). Following A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle sits on the coup attempt, the Turkish government formally requested Gulen’s extradition to Turkey and presented the U.S. government the flightline at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, with evidence showing Gulen’s involvement in multiple crimes in Turkey.4 The request is still under review, and the extradition is one Nov. 12, 2015. of the major areas of concern for Turkey with regard to its relations with the U.S.
DID YOU KNOW SOURCES: KAYA (2012) SHARKOV (2017) DEGRANDPRE (2017)
IMAGE SOURCE: 8 AIRMAN 1ST CLASS CORY W. BUSH 9 FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Regional Risks
The Syrian Conflict MAJOR TERROR ATTACKS As it entered its sixth year, the civil war in Syria became Turkey’s biggest regional security risk in 2016. Turkey has continued to be a IN TURKEY IN 2016 reliable and effective partner in the fight against Daesh. After open- ing up Incirlik Air Base in July 2015 for use by the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, Turkey launched ISTANBUL its own operation in August 2016 in northern Syria to counter Daesh JANUARY 12 - 10 KILLED | 15 WOUNDED as well as the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara views MARCH 19 - 4 KILLED | 36 WOUNDED as a terrorist organization due to its links to the PKK.5 JUNE 7 - 11 KILLED | 36 WOUNDED JUNE 28 - 45 KILLED | 200+ WOUNDED With Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria, Turkey declared DECEMBER 10 - 45 KILLED | 150+ WOUNDED that it was exercising its right to self-defense (codified under Article 51 of the UN Charter) and officially became the first anti-Daesh coalition country to use ground forces in Syria.6 However, continued U.S. support of the YPG – which Washington considers an effective partner in the fight against Daesh – has aggravated and severely antagonized Turkey’s threat perceptions during a period in which Turkey is suffering from attacks by both Daesh and Kurdish nation- ANKARA KAYSERI alist terror groups. FEBRUARY 17 - 28 KILLED | AT LEAST 60 WOUNDED DECEMBER 17 - 14 KILLED | 50+ WOUNDED MARCH 13 - 37 KILLED | AT LEAST 125 WOUNDED On August 24, during a visit to Ankara that coincided with the launch of Operation Euphrates Shield, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged Turkish concerns about the YPG’s progress in northern Syria and called on the YPG to leave the city of Manbij after they drove out Daesh as part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).7 However, the U.S. did not choose to halt its support the YPG even as Operation Euphrates Shield advanced and included strikes targeting not just Daesh but also the YPG.8 GAZIANTEP DIYARBAKIR Operation Euphrates Shield holds considerable significance for Turkey. AUGUST 20 - 57 KILLED | 90+ WOUNDED Following the coup attempt in July, there were both domestic and JANUARY 13 - 6 KILLED | 39 WOUNDED MARCH 31 - 7 KILLED | AT LEAST 27 WOUNDED international concerns about the state of the TSK and about Turkey’s NOVEMBER 4 - 9 KILLED | 100+ WOUNDED institutional strength as a critical NATO member. In addition to ad- dressing border security concerns and confronting terror groups, MAJOR TERROR ATTACK MAP SOURCES: ISTANBUL Operation Euphrates Shield provided Turkey the opportunity to WOOD (2016) TATTERSALL & YACKLEY (2016) ORGANIZATIONS RESPONSIBLE re-affirm its military strength and capability not only to its allies but PAMUK & ORSAL (2016) 9 "45 KILLED" (2016) FOR ATTACKS also to its adversaries. Additionally, from an operational standpoint, "TOLL IN BESIKTAS ATTACK" (2016) deployment of various units and new technologies developed and ANKARA Daesh TAK PKK LETSCH (2016, FEBRUARY 7) 10 built in Turkey provided confidence to the Turkish defense industry. LETSCH (2016, MARCH 17)
KAYSERI "KAYSERI SUICIDE BOMBER" (2016)
GAZIANTEP "DEATH TOLL TO 57" (2016)
DIYARBAKIR "BOMB ATTACK IN DIYARBAKIR" (2016) "7 OFFICERS KILLED" (2016) 10 "NINE KILLED" (2016) 11 OPERATION EUPHRATES SHIELD The ongoing civil war in Syria and the fight against Daesh continue to pose significant risks not only for Turkey but also for its allies. The Syrian conflict has exposed Turkey’s domestic and regional TURKEY SANLIURFA vulnerabilities and undermined its security. It has strained U.S.-Turkey relations, which worsened even further after the coup attempt.11 The difficult period in U.S.-Turkey relations in 2016 contrasted starkly with the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey following a GAZIANTEP crisis in relations over the November 2015 downing of a Russian fighter jet by the Turkish military. Though the rapprochement was underway before July 15, following the coup attempt, various JARABLUS KOBANE disagreements between Turkey and the U.S. – especially over Syria – KILIS drove Turkey closer to Russia. As a result, near the end of 2016, Moscow and Ankara worked closely together to negotiate a human- itarian ceasefire in Aleppo12 that would pave the way to a 2017 MANBIJ 13 DABIQ international meeting on a Syrian settlement in Astana, Kazakhstan. Although the rapprochement between Russia and Turkey has AL BAB distanced the U.S. from this process, Ankara has expressed its will- ingness to improve its relations with Washington under the new presidential administration in the U.S.14
REYHANLI Pursuing a pragmatic policy that is aimed at maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is a common goal of the anti- ALEPPO Daesh coalition as well as Russia.15 The first step toward reducing and eventually eliminating the security risks that are undermining
RAQQA Turkey’s security and complicating its relationship with the U.S. would be pursuing a coordinated, pragmatic policy that is aimed
IDLIB SYRIA at maintaining Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Despite the security challenges and tensions it faced in 2016, Turkey remains resilient and continues to share strategic, common interests with the U.S. It is essential that both countries make efforts to heal their relationship in 2017. The alternative – a continuation of complications between Washington and Ankara – will not only severely damage bilateral defense cooperation between the two Syrian & Iraqi Kurdish Forces TURKEY largest militaries in NATO but will also contribute to the destabiliza- DAESH tion of both Turkey and its region.16 Syrian Government Forces Syrian Rebel Forces (including Turkey-backed FSA forces northwest of Aleppo)
Capital of Daesh in Syria The Turkish government aims to create a safe zone of 5,000 sq. km. SYRIA LEBANON Towns that have been cleared of Deash by the FSA & Turkey (1,930 sq. mi.) in northern Syria through Operation Euphrates Shield. COSKUN & SEZER (2016) Ongoing Euphrates Shield offensives at the end of 2016 IRAQ Key cities held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) OPERATION EUPHRATES JORDAN SHIELD MAP SOURCES: Since August 24, 2016, Operation Euphrates Shield has cleared an area "149TH DAY" (2017) "ISLAMIC STATE" (2017) "SYRIA WAR" (2016) of 2,000 sq. km. (~772 sq. mi.) in northern Syria. 12 VAN WILGENBURG (2016) ULGEN & KASAPOGLU (2017) 13 HUMANITARIAN AID Humanitarian aid has proven to be a significant concern for Turkey DID YOU KNOW? IN TURKEY... in 2016. Both the Turkish government and NGOs have expended ample time and resources to support the 3 million refugees in Turkey, while some assistance from the international community 510,000 Syrian refugee children are receiving education. has aided their efforts.1 The EU-Turkey migrant deal of March 2016 created a system in which Syrian refugees arriving illegally in Greece 150,000 Syrian refugees have acquired professions, would be returned to Turkey if their asylum requests were rejected. out of whom 13,298 obtained work permits in 2016. In return, Syrian refugees in the camps in Turkey would be resettled in an EU country. Additionally, the deal promised to benefit Turkish nationals by granting them access to the EU’s passport-free Schengen FREE healthcare services are available for registered Zone. However, this aspect of the deal has yet to be delivered and refugees. has caused great tension between Turkey and the EU.2
The U.S. only accepted 10,000 Syrian refugees last year but provided TURKEY IS HOST TO nearly $36 million in humanitarian assistance to Turkey in 2016 to address the refugee crisis.3 Turkey and the EU also collaborated OVER 3 MILLION REFUGEES to launch the Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) at the end of 2016.4 The ESSN is the largest humanitarian project that the EU has WITH 2.8 MILLION FROM SYRIA. supported, contracting $393 million5 to Turkey as part of the $3.14 (AS OF DECEMBER 22, 2016) billion promised in 2015.6 Beyond Turkey, the refugee crisis gained greater recognition as a global concern in 2016 with the first annual World Humanitarian Summit (which was held in Istanbul) and a summit on refugees and migrants at the 71st UNGA. During the UNGA session, President Erdogan expressed the need for global involvement in the refugee crisis, noting that Turkey has spent $12 billion in support of its refugee communities but has received only hundreds of millions from the international community to support this effort.7
Turkey remains at the forefront of global humanitarian aid efforts, ranking second on the 2016 Global Humanitarian Assistance report’s list of top global donors. Even though Turkey is the largest refugee hosting country in the world, it is only the 10th highest recipient of aid.8 There is a major need for more aid to support large refugee populations in host countries such as Turkey. Turkey is expected to continue its humanitarian work in 2017 due to continuing conflict in its region, as made clear by the December operation to evacuate civilians from Aleppo.9 As such, Turkey will continue to need inter- national support – including monetary aid – in 2017 in order to properly support its refugee communities.
DID YOU KNOW SOURCES: "TURKEY RESPONSE" (2016) "OVER 73,000 FOREIGNERS" (2017) "SYRIA REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE...TURKEY" (N.D.) EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2017)
IMAGE SOURCE: 14 AFAD 15 TURKEY IS THE 10TH HIGHEST RECIPIENT OF AID EUROPE SOURCE OF FUNDING TO TURKEY BY REGIONS 54.3% NORTH & FAR EAST ASIA CENTRAL AMERICAS 3.8% PRIVATE SOURCES 29.3% MIDDLE EAST & 4.0% NORTH AFRICA 8.6% SOURCE OF FUNDING SOURCE: GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (2016) U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TOP GLOBAL DONORS TO SYRIAN REFUGEE HOST COUNTRIES (2016) COUNTRY AMOUNT OF AID (USD) %GNI RECIPIENT SYRIAN REFUGEE ASSISTANCE U.S. $6.4 Billion 0.04% COUNTRY POPULATION SINCE FY 2012 Turkey $3.2 Billion* 0.37% Lebanon $84 M 1.01 Million $1.2 B U.K. $2.8 Billion 0.10% Jordan $65 M 655,400 Million $795 M EU Institutions $2.0 Billion N/A Turkey $36 M 2.76 Million $415 M Germany $1.5 Billion 0.04% Iraq $16 M 228,900 Million $244 M Sweden $1.2 Billion 0.19%
U.S HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE SOURCE: "SYRIA REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE...REGIONAL" (N.D.) UAE $1.1 Billion 0.25% FUNDING ALLOCATIONS Japan $1.02 Billion N/A FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN TURKEY Canada $873 Million 0.05% Netherlands $868 Million 0.10%
*Aid largely goes to hosting Syrian refugees within Turkey. TOP GLOBAL DONOR SOURCE: GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (2016) UNICEF EVENTS IN 2016 building schools • paying teachers for quality education • providing school Emergency Social Safety Net (ESSN) supplies and programs to teach life skills to refugee children With an initial budget of $362 million from the EU, the program will provide reloadable, pre-paid cash cards to one million Syrian refugees in Turkey. Partners in the program include the European Commission, the World Food Programme, the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay), the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and the Turkish UNHCR Ministry of Family and Social Policy. SOURCE: STYLIANIDES (2016) legal protection • psychological support • prevention of gender based violence for Syrian refugees World Humanitarian Summit The first World Humanitarian Summit convened by the UN in May 2016 brought over 9,000 participants from around the world to Istanbul to address critical issues in the global humanitarian system. The summit generated more than 3,000 International Organization for Migration (U.S) commitments for action and launched 12+ new partnerships and initiatives, including the following: mental health support • school transportation • shelter • The Charter for Change • The Grand Bargain • The ROHAN Network • The Connecting Business Initiative 16 SOURCE: "U.S. HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE" (2016) 17 SOURCES: "AGENDA FOR HUMANITY" (N.D.) ECONOMY The Turkish economy faced multiple challenges in 2016, including security risks, political uncertainty, and floating exchange rates. The attempted coup on July 15 was the main contributor to political uncertainty. Regional security developments also led to a drop in tourism and hesitance from foreign investors. Turkey’s GDP contracted by 1.8% in the third quarter of 2016, its first contraction since 2009.1 The lira also decreased in value throughout the year, passing a record of 3.5 lira per U.S. dollar for the first time in early December.2 After monitoring these developments and rising uncertainties, multiple U.S. credit rating companies made cuts to Turkey’s rating. Moody’s downgraded Turkey from Baa3 to Ba1, dropping the country from lower-medium investment grade to non-investment grade spec- ulative.3 S&P downgraded Turkey’s rating from BB+ to BB, both non- investment grade speculative.4
However, the contraction of Turkey’s economy in the third quarter followed a growth of 4.5% in the first and second quarters. Though the OECD projects Turkey’s GDP growth to be only 2.9% for 2016, its GDP is expected to grow by 3.3% and 3.8% in 2017 and 2018, respectively.5 The World Bank expects Turkey’s economy to grow by 3% in 2017, which is down from a previous projection of 3.5%.6 U.S.-Turkey trade and investments are still seeing growth and oppor- tunities with continuing business delegations. Despite political and consumer uncertainty, there are still more than 1,400 U.S. companies doing business in Turkey.7
Turkey remains resilient during this current period of uncertainty and continues to push for a positive investment atmosphere and improve- ments in its automotive, agriculture, technology, and energy sectors. In 2017, Turkey’s economy is expected to grow while economic reforms, such as auto-enrollment for pension plans,8 will be imple- DID YOU KNOW? mented. These reforms will have a positive impact on Turkey’s economy in the long term. Experts following Turkey’s economy APPROXIMATELY 1,600 U.S.-BASED COMPANIES indicate that Turkey’s young demographics continue to make Turkey invest or do business in Turkey. an attractive country for investment.9 In order to capitalize on the potential of younger generations, experts recommend that Turkey THESE U.S. COMPANIES... reform its education system to allow for high-quality results that are spread evenly across its population. employ more than 60,000 people in Turkey. use Turkey as an export base for 80+ countries.
manage operations to more than 125 countries from their offices in Istanbul.
DID YOU KNOW SOURCE: 18 BRILLIANT & MIEL (2016) 19 *Figures and totals as of November 2016 SOURCE: "U.S. TRADE IN GOODS" (N.D.)
U.S. TRADE IN GOODS WITH TURKEY Exports Imports IN MILLIONS OF USD
15K $14,695.2 $12,747.7 $12,078.7 $11,650.9 $10,538.5 10K $9,502.5 $8,643.8 $7,094.6 $7,414.9 $7,880.9 $6,294.1 $6,669.6 $7,424.4 $5,220.8 5K $3,661.6 $4,207.2
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016* $10,756.2 $14,745.7 $19,916.0 $19,041.8 $18,748.3 $19,065.8 $17,383.4 $16,068.2
TOTAL # OF IMPORTS & EXPORTS (by year)
365 DAY CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE HISTORY TURKEY GDP USD to LIRA IN BILLIONS OF USD
4.0 $823.25 825 800 $798.78 $788.86 3.5 775 $774.77 750 $731.14 725 $717.88 3.0 700 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
SOURCE: "TURKEY — GDP" (N.D.) 2.5 U.S.-TURKEY BUSINESS COUNCIL DELEGATIONS
2.0 January 6: The U.S.-Turkey Business Council hosts a roundtable meeting with FEB APRIL JUN AUG OCT DEC Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek. SOURCE: "XE CURRENCY CHARTS" (N.D.) CREDIT RATINGS June 22: A U.S.-Turkey Business Council representative joins the fourth annual Etohum San Francisco Summit, which brought together 300 entrepreneurs, AGENCY EARLY 2016 OUTLOOK MID 2016 OUTLOOK LATE 2016 OUTLOOK investors, and technology companies from Turkey and the U.S. Moody’s Baa3 Negative Baa3 Negative Watch Ba1 Stable S&P BB+ Stable BB Negative BB Stable August 22: A U.S.-Turkey Business Council representative joins a high-level Fitch BBB- Stable BBB- Stable BBB- Negative economic dialogue meeting with President Erdogan.
20 SOURCE: "TURKEY CREDIT RATING" (N.D.) SOURCE: "NEWS" (N.D.) 21 ENERGY Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Turkey is perfectly positioned to serve as a key actor in the transit of natural gas resources in Asia to markets in Europe. In 2016, developments CURRENT PIPELINE surrounding three major natural gas pipeline projects – two under- way and one under discussion – played into Turkey’s plans to PROJECTS become a regional energy hub.
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), which has been under construction since March 2015 and is on track to become 1 operational in 2018, will connect the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan RUSSIA to markets in Europe. The Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline between Russia and Turkey will allow Turkey to serve as a crucial ANAPA transit point for Russian energy into the European market. Though plans for Turkish Stream were tabled after a breakdown in Turkey- BLACK SEA Russia relations in late 2015, a rapprochement between the two LULEBURGAZ countries brought the project back online in October 2016.2 An GEORGIA additional rapprochement between Turkey and Israel – including ALBANIA AZERBAIJAN the first exchange of ambassadors since 2010 – has allowed for ITALY KIYIKOY ARMENIA BAKU increasing discussions about Turkey’s potential to work with Israel GREECE IPSALA on an imagined Eastern Mediterranean pipeline that will transport natural gas from Israel’s newly-discovered Leviathan gas field to TURKEY CASPIAN SEA southern Europe.3
If these projects proceed as planned, Turkey could indeed become a crucial transit hub for natural gas. However, according to Douglas Hengel of the German Marshall Fund, Turkey will need to implement reforms of its energy sector – including legislation allowing for greater competition in the Turkish market – in order to “realize its Shah Deniz Field great potential” in the area of energy.4 South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion (SCPX) Beyond natural gas, Turkey is making strides in its renewable energy Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) sector that could bolster its aim of becoming a regional energy hub. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) According to recent statistics, 26.2% of Turkey’s electricity generation Planned Route for the Turkish Stream Pipeline from January to September 2016 came from hydropower, while 5.56% came from wind energy.5 Turkey is moving forward with a robust strategy to increase its installed capacity of renewable sources, including hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal energy. The growth in the renewable energy sector provides opportunities for investment from energy stakeholders across the world, including U.S. energy companies.
CURRENT PIPELINE SOURCE: "AGREEMENT ON TURKISH 22 GAS PIPELINE" (2016) 23 "BP IS NOW A SHAREHOLDER" (N.D.) TURKEY’S RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY TURKEY’S ENERGY MIX
ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN 2016 INSTALLED CAPACITY (AS OF SEPT 2016) (AS OF SEPT 2016) SOLAR BY TYPE BY TYPE Installed Capacity: approximately 745.7 MW NATURAL GAS 2023 Goal: 5,000 MW NATURAL GAS & LNG SOURCES: 29% "GUNES ENERJI SANTRALLERI" (N.D.) 32.4% MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (2014) COAL HYDROPOWER 22.1% COAL 26.2% HYDROPOWER 32.44% 33.7% WIND Installed Capacity: 4,718.3 MW OTHER 2023 Goal: 20,000 MW WIND GEOTHERMAL OTHER 5.56% 6.8% 0.9% SOURCES: WIND SOLAR TURKISH WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION (2016) 3.4% MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (2014) 6.7% 0.8%
SOURCE: MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (2016)
DID YOU KNOW? GEOTHERMAL Installed Capacity: 775 MW OF THE 269.8 BILLION kWh OF ENERGY PRODUCED IN TURKEY in 2016, 131.8 billion kWh (48.9%) came from 2023 Goal: 1,000 MW domestic and renewable sources.
SOURCES: RICHTER (2016) MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (2014) TURKEY’S LARGEST SOLAR PLANT OPENED IN KONYA IN MAY 2016 with a capacity of 22.5 MW.
WITH 61 WIND PLANTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, Turkey will see an additional 1,868.85 MW of HYDROPOWER installed wind capacity in coming years. Installed Capacity: 26,323 MW GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ALREADY HEATS 90,000 HOUSEHOLDS in Turkey. If its untapped potential is realized, it 2023 Goal: 34,000 MW could heat 2.5 million households.
SOURCES: MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (N.D.) DID YOU KNOW SOURCES: MINISTRY OF ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES (2014) "HALF OF ELECTRICITY" (2017) "COMPANY OPENS" (2016) TURKISH WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION (2016) HALL (2016) 24 25 EDUCATION In recent years, both the U.S. and Turkey have enjoyed a renaissance in the number of students from each country who are studying in the other. Though the number of Turkish students studying in the U.S. has declined since a peak number of 12,397 was recorded in the 2009/10 academic year,1 Turkey regularly sends enough students each year to keep it among the top 15 places of national origin for international students in the U.S.2 The 2015/16 academic year was no exception with 10,691 Turkish students studying in the U.S., making Turkey second in Europe and 13th overall in terms of place of national origin.
Until recently, the number of American students studying in Turkey had been steadily increasing year by year, peaking at 2,163 in 2013/14.3 However, security and political challenges have contributed to a drop in the number of Americans studying in Turkey. In 2016, the July 15 coup attempt and an increasing number of terror attacks took an even further toll on U.S. academic exchange opportunities in Turkey, forcing many institutions to either move their programs to another country or suspend them outright. Affected programs include U.S.-government initiatives like the Fulbright English Teaching Assistanship (ETA) program, the Critical Language Scholarship, and the Boren Awards for foreign language study. Additionally, Turkey- focused study abroad and exchange programs at universities across the country have been disrupted by Turkey’s current security climate.
While the numbers reflecting how many U.S. students are studying abroad in Turkey are not yet available for 2015/16, let alone 2016/17, it is fair to assume that they have dropped significantly. However, some academic exchange programs in Turkey continued in 2016. While the Fulbright ETAs were unable to carry out their 2016/17 grants, the student researchers were still allowed to conduct their fellowships in Turkey.4 Additionally, the Fulbright ETA program in DID YOU KNOW? Turkey has already accepted applications for the 2017/18 year, and 105 ETA positions are expected to be available.5 However, some universities – including Syracuse University in New York – have IN 2014, TURKISH EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN THE U.S. contributed $368 million to the U.S. economy. already suspended their Turkey study abroad programs in 2017/18.6 IN 2015, TURKISH EXCHANGE STUDENTS IN THE U.S. contributed $423 million to the U.S. economy.
DID YOU KNOW SOURCE: 26 INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL 27 EDUCATION (2016B) NUMBER OF U.S & TURKISH STUDENTS 12,397 12,184 15K 11,973 STUDYING ABROAD 11,278 10,821 IN TURKEY AND THE U.S. 10,724 10,691
10K Turkish students studying in the U.S American students studying in Turkey
5K 2,163 2,042 1,987 2,037 1,889 1,522 N/A
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16
ACADEMIC YEAR SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (2016B)
FULLBRIGHT ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP (ETA) PROGRAM TOP 15 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN IN TURKEY (BY NUMBERS) OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE U.S.
• ~80 ETAs were affected by the decision to suspend the program for 2016/17. • 90 ETAs participated in 2015/16. RANK COUNTRY 2014/15 2015/16 • 105 ETAs are expected to be selected for 2017/18. 1 China 304,040 328,547 • 366 total ETAs have particpated since Turkey began hosting ETAs. FULBRIGHT ETA PROGRAM SOURCES: India 132,888 165,918 "FULBRIGHT GRANTEE DIRECTORY" (N.D.) 2 HARTOCOLLIS (2016) "TURKEY" (N.D.) 3 Saudi Arabia 59,945 61,287 STATUS OF SELECT U.S. STUDY ABROAD/EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN TURKEY 4 South Korea 63,710 61,007 5 Canada 27,240 26,973 PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED 6 Vietnam 18,722 21,403 American Councils – Turkish Overseas University of Iowa - Bogazici University Exchange Flagship Program (suspended indefinitely) 7 Taiwan 20,993 21,127 (conducted in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan) 8 Brazil 23,675 19,370 U.S. Department of State - Fulbright U.S. Student U.S. Department of State – Critical Language Program’s English Teaching Assistantship Program 9 Japan 19,064 19,060 Scholarship Program (suspended for the 2016/17 academic year) (conducted in Azerbaijan for the Summer 2016 term) 10 Mexico 17,052 16,733 MOVED PROGRAMS SOURCES: "TURKISH DOMESTIC FLAGSHIP PROGRAM" (N.D.) Syracuse University - Bahcesehir University Program "TURKISH 2016" (N.D.) (suspended through the 2017/18 academic year) 11 Iran 11,338 12,269 THE BOREN AWARDS 12 United Kingdom 10,743 11,599 AIFS Study Abroad - Bogazici University In August 2016, The New York Times reported that and Richmond in Istanbul Programs the Boren Awards for language study in Turkey had 13 Turkey 10,724 10,691 (suspended through the Spring 2017 term) also been “disrupted” by the country’s security situ- ation. The Boren website mentions that the program 14 Nigeria 9,494 10,674 “does not anticipate sending students” to Turkey in 15 Germany 10,193 10,145 2017. While students may still apply to study in Turkey, they “must include a viable alternate plan in another appropriate country for the same language of study” SUSPENDED PROGRAMS SOURCES: "BOGAZICI UNIVERSITY EXCHANGE" (N.D.) HARTOCOLLIS (2016) in their application. TOP 15 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN SOURCE: INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (2016A) BOREAN AWARDS SOURCE: "ISTANBUL, TURKEY" (N.D.) "EMPHASIZED COUNTRIES" (N.D.) "STUDY ABROAD IN TURKEY" (N.D.) 29 TECHNOLOGY Turkey’s young population – with a median age of approximately DID YOU KNOW? 30 years1 – makes the country not only a prime market for new technologies but also a nation with the potential for innovation. IN 2017, THE UN WILL CREATE A TECHNOLOGY BANK As such, Turkey’s start-up scene has evoked comparisons to 2 in Turkey to support the development of the Silicon Valley. world’s least-developed countries.
In 2016, Turkey continued to lead the pack on mobile technology with Turkcell’s launch of 4.5G mobile data3 as well as an agreement TURKISH MOBILE COMPANY TURKCELL LAUNCHED 4.5G between Turkish defense electronics systems producer ASELSAN mobile service in April 2016 and is working with Ericsson to develop 5G technology. and U.S. company Keysight Technologies to develop 5G communi- cations technology.4 Additionally, the launch of the GOKTURK-1 military surveillance satellite provided a backdrop for Turkish plans to open a space agency, which are still in their beginning stages.5
In October, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced a plan that will offer “specially-designed incentives” to help grow Turkey’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector.6 In December, President Erdogan reiterated the Turkish government’s desire to increase spending on research and design (R&D) from 1 percent to 3 percent of Turkey’s GDP by 2023.7
As Turkey’s technology sector looks ahead to 2017, the challenge for the country will be to overcome its difficult security and economic situation and secure investments that will allow it to capitalize upon its potential. For the U.S., Turkey’s young population offers not only an ample market for new technology but also the potential for innovative partnerships between entrepreneurs and investors in both countries.
DID YOU KNOW SOURCES: GONULTAS (2016) 30 "THE FASTEST OF THE FASTEST" (2016) 31 TECHNOPARKS IN TURKEY TURKEY’S MOBILE USE
According to Turkey’s Law No. 4691 on Technology Development Zones, NUMBER OF MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS a technopark is where technology companies “produce/develop tech- 73.6 nology or software” and “where the companies work to transform a 73.6Million million technological invention into a commercial product, method or service” 61.8 while “benefiting from the opportunities of a particular university or 61.8Million million higher technology institute or R&D centre or institute.” As such, techno- 16% INCREASE parks often are located within or near the campuses of established universities, centers and institutes. 2010 2015
TECHNOPARKS VALUE OF EXPORTS MOBILE PHONE SATURATION AS OF MAY 2015 IN 2012 93.5% IN TURKEY (2015) 46 ACTIVE ANNUAL EXPORTS OF TURKISH TECHNOPARKS SMARTPHONE SATURATION AMONG TURKS 15 UNDER DEVELOPMENT $1 billion 85% 18-50 YEARS OLD
MOBILE USE SOURCES: "INTERNET USAGE" (2016) BTK (2016) GOAL FOR 2023 100 ACTIVE TECHNOPARKS TURKEY IN SPACE $10 billion ANNUAL EXPORTS OF TECHNOPARKS Turkey has tried multiple times to establish a space agency. In 2016, Ankara made progress on a draft bill covering NUMBER OF COMPANIES CONDUCTING R&D the establishment of the Space Agency of Turkey (known by its Turkish acronym, TUA). IN TURKISH TECHNOPARKS
3,233 SHARE AMONG SECTORS Turkey aims to maintain 10 satellites in space by 2023, allowing for direct communication exclusively through OTHER Turkish satellites with 91% of the world’s population. (E.G., MEDICAL, ENERGY, ELECTRONICS CHEMISTRY, DEFENSE) 7% 30% In September 2016, Turkey signed a cooperation agreement with Japan that will allow for the launch of a Turkish SOFTWARE satellite into space using Japan’s “Kibo” module at the MANUFACTURING International Space Station. OF MACHINES AND HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT ICT 40% 5% 18% TECHNOPARKS SOURCES: "TECHNOPARKS IN TURKEY" (N.D.) "TURKEY'S TECHNOPARKS" (2013) SPACE SOURCES: "TURKEY AND JAPAN" (2016) GURCAN (2016) 32 LOOKING AHEAD IN 2017 ECONOMY Just as 2016 was tough on Turkey’s security, the country’s economy also suffered. In the 2016 was a rough year for U.S.-Turkey relations, but that doesn’t third quarter of 2016, Turkey’s economy contracted for the first time since 2009, and the mean the trend will continue in 2017. In the year ahead, there will be Turkish lira has already climbed as high as 3.94 to the dollar in 2017.2 Despite these challenges, many opportunities for stronger relations between both countries in Turkey’s economy still shows signs that it has the potential for prosperity. It is set to grow the areas of security, humanitarian aid, economy, energy, education, in both 2017 and 2018, and the Turkish Exporters Assembly recently announced aims to and technology. increase exports to $155 billion in the coming year.3 U.S.-based companies and investors can still find ample opportunities to capitalize on Turkey’s growth, whether by investing in ongoing megaprojects like the new Istanbul airport – slated to be the largest in the world – or by helping Turkey realize a variety of goals for 2023 in areas like technology and MAJOR EVENTS TO WATCH FOR IN 2017 renewable energy.
ENERGY SEPTEMBER 12 - 25 Turkey imported its first shipments of LNG from the U.S. in 2016.4 While Turkey is unlikely JANUARY 20 - APRIL 29 EARLY APRIL LATE SPRING/EARLY SUMMER JULY 7 - 8 72nd UN General The first 100 days of Referendum on the NATO Summit in Brussels G20 Summit Assembly to be a major importer of U.S. natural gas due to geographic distance and previous agree- the Trump Administration presidential system in Hamburg ments with Russia, this milestone illuminates the potential for Turkey to diversify some in Turkey of its energy supply using U.S. sources. Additionally, Turkey’s renewable energy sector is blossoming, with new solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower projects underway to help Turkey reach its 2023 goals. Both the public and private sectors in the U.S. can look to Turkey as a partner in the global trek towards greater use of renewable energy sources. SECURITY The U.S.-Turkey relationship is based on a foundation of security cooperation, and 2017 provides an opportunity for both countries to revisit key security concerns and agreements EDUCATION in order to strengthen the ties between them. This is especially important as Turkey While many 2016/17 academic year exchange and study abroad programs in Turkey were continues to face major security threats. Turkey has already suffered a major Daesh terror either suspended or moved to different locations due to the country’s security situation, attack in 2017 at a nightclub in Istanbul.1 Robust U.S.-Turkey cooperation against Daesh will some are already expected to be back online in 2017/18, including the Fulbright ETA program. be crucial for both countries in 2017. In addition to Daesh, Turkey is threatened by other However, many programs are still suspended without firm plans for reinstatement. It is terror groups, including the PKK, TAK, and FETO. The extent to which the U.S.-Turkey rela- important for institutions to take the proper precautions to protect their students while tionship improves in 2017 will be determined by how both countries resolve current differ- at the same time exploring ways to ensure that U.S.-Turkey exchange and study abroad ences over U.S. support of the YPG and the extradition of Fethullah Gulen. Turkey’s programs are reinstated as soon as possible. If it is unlikely for programs to be reinstated domestic security will continue to be vulnerable to the conflict in Syria, and for that reason, in the 2017/18 academic year, then international education professionals in the U.S. should Ankara cannot adequately address the threats it faces from myriad terror groups without work to support and develop viable alternatives that will still allow for American students strong cooperation with the U.S. on Syria. to be exposed to Turkish language and culture.
HUMANITARIAN AID TECHNOLOGY In 2016, the international community’s attention was captured by the ongoing migrant and Turkey’s young population has made for a dynamic and vibrant technology sector. Turkey’s refugee crisis. The challenge for global leaders and the international community in 2017 start-up scene continues to grow, and while it may be affected in the short term by current will be to act on the promises they have made to address the crisis. Turkey has already uncertainties in Turkey’s security and economy, it is unlikely to be down for the count. In been recognized for its above-and-beyond approach to mitigating the issues faced by its 2017, Turkey is slated to continue developing its technology sector, including its ICT and refugee community, and it will continue to make improvements to this approach in 2017. space technologies. Turkey’s untapped potential for innovation provides an opportunity The international community – including the U.S. – has an important role to play in this for American and Turkish companies and innovators to collaborate on exciting new process. The Aleppo crisis of late 2016 has shown that continued conflict in Syria will only projects in 2017. exacerbate the refugee crisis. Turkey is already home to more than 3 million refugees. In 2017, it will need greater support from the international community to ensure a compre- hensive and effective approach to its refugee population.
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Global Humanitarian Assistance. (2016). Global humanitarian assistance report 2016. Bristol, U.K.: Development Initiatives. Retrieved from http://www.globalhumanitarianassistance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/GHA-report-2016-full-report.pdf ENERGY Over 73,000 foreigners given work permits in 2016 in Turkey, Syrians take lion’s share. (2017, January 18). Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved Analysis from http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/over-73000-foreigners-given-work-permits-in-2016-in-turkey-syrians-take-lions-share-.aspx 1 Guldogan, D., & Rehimov, R. (2017, January 25). TANAP pipeline project ahead of schedule: Turkish envoy. Anadolu Agency. Retrieved ?pageID=238&nID=108683&NewsCatID=345 from http://aa.com.tr/en/economy/tanap-pipeline-project-ahead-of-schedule-turkish-envoy/734510 Stylianides, C. (2016, September 6). Speech at the emergency social safety net (ESSN) launch (Ankara). Retrieved from https://ec.europa. 2 Turkey, Russia strike strategic Turkish Stream gas pipeline deal. (2016, October 10). Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved from http://www. eu/commission/2014-2019/stylianides/announcements/speech-emergency-social-safety-net-essn-launch-ankara_en hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-russia-strike-strategic-turkish-stream-gas-pipeline-deal.aspx?pageID=238&nID=104822&News CatID=348 Syria regional refugee response: Inter-agency information sharing portal – Turkey. (n.d.). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved December 31, 2016, from https://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=224 3 Benmeleh, Y., & Wainer, D. (2016, December 12). Israel and Turkey seek to shield natural gas ties from politics. Bloomberg. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-12/israel-and-turkey-seek-to-shield-natural-gas-ties-from-politics Syria regional refugee response: Inter-agency information sharing portal – Regional. (n.d.). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved December 31, 2016, from http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php 4 [Turkish Heritage Organization]. (2016, February 10). Future energy markets depend on Turkey [Video file]. Retrieved from https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0r0rfqjmOg Turkey response to Syria crisis. (2016, November 30). Republic of Turkey Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD). Retrieved from https://www.afad.gov.tr/en/2601/Turkey-Response-to-Syria-Crisis 5 Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. (2016, October 1). Dunya ve ulkemiz enerji ve tabii kaynaklar gorunumu [A view of the world’s and our country’s energy and natural resources]. (Issue 15). Ankara: Ministry of Energy and Natural U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to the Syrian crisis. (2016, July 12). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved from https://2009-2017. Resources of the Republic of Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.enerji.gov.tr/File/?path=ROOT%2f1%2fDocuments%2fEnerji%20ve%20 state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/09/262482.htm Tabii%20Kaynaklar%20G%C3%B6r%C3%BCn%C3%BCm%C3%BC%2fSayi_14.pdf
Infographics ECONOMY Agreement on Turkish gas pipeline ‘nearly completed’. (2016, September 10). Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from http://aa.com.tr/en/info/ infographic/2048 Analysis 1 Turkish economy shrinks for first time since 2009. (2016, December 12).Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.hurriyetdaily BP is now a shareholder in TANAP. (n.d.). BP Azerbaijan. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://www.bp.com/en_az/caspian/press/ news.com/turkish-economy-shrinks-for-first-time-since-2009.aspx?pageID=238&nID=107179&NewsCatID=344 features/BP-shareholder-of-TANAP.html
2 Turkish lira: 1991-2017. (n.d.). Trading Economics. Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://www.tradingeconomics.com/turkey/currency Company opens Turkey’s ‘largest solar power plant’ in Central Anatolia. (2016, May 5). Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved from http://www. hurriyetdailynews.com/company-opens-turkeys-largest-solar-power-plant-in-central-anatolia.aspx?pageID=238&nID=98783&News 3 Moody’s downgrades Turkey’s issuer and bond ratings to Ba1 with a stable outlook. (2016, September 23). Moody’s. Retrieved from CatID=348 https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Downgrades-Turkeys-Issuer-And-Bond-Ratings-To-Ba1-With--PR_354341 Gunes enerji santralleri [Solar energy stations]. (n.d.). Enerji Atlasi [Energy Atlas]. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://www.enerji 4 Coppola, G. (2016, July 20). S&P cuts Turkey credit rating, citing political uncertainty. Bloomberg. Retrieved from https://www. atlasi.com/gunes/ bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-20/s-p-cuts-turkey-credit-rating-citing-more-political-uncertainty Half of electricity produced by local sources. (2017, January 8). Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey: Directorate General 5 Gurria, A., & Mann, C. L. (2016, November 28). Escaping the low-growth trap? Effective fiscal initiatives, avoiding trade pitfalls.OECD. of Press and Information. Retrieved from http://www.byegm.gov.tr/english/agenda/half-of-the-electricity-produced-by-local-sources/ Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/eco/outlook/Escaping-the-low-growth-trap-press-handout-summary-of-projections-oecd- 104337 economic-outlook-november-2016.pdf Hall, M. C. (2016, November 11). Tapping Turkey’s geothermal potential for renewable energy. Climate Investment Funds. Retrieved from 6 World Bank revises down Turkey’s 2017 growth projection. (2017, January 11). Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved from http://www.hurriyet https://www-cif.climateinvestmentfunds.org/blog/tapping-turkeys-geothermal-potential-renewable-energy dailynews.com/world-bank-revises-down-turkeys-2017-growth-projection-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=108394&NewsCatID=344
38 39 Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. (2016, October 1). Dunya ve ulkemiz enerji ve tabii kaynaklar gorunumu [A view of the world’s and our country’s energy and natural resources]. (Issue 15). Ankara: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources TECHNOLOGY of the Republic of Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.enerji.gov.tr/File/?path=ROOT%2f1%2fDocuments%2fEnerji%20ve%20Tabii%20 Analysis Kaynaklar%20G%C3%B6r%C3%BCn%C3%BCm%C3%BC%2fSayi_14.pdf 1 Kandemir, A. (2016, July 3). Turkish e-commerce startups bet on enviable demographics. Haaretz. Retrieved from http://www.haaretz. com/middle-east-news/turkey/1.728561 Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. (2014, December). National renewable energy action plan for Turkey. Ankara: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.ebrd.com/documents/comms- 2 Kadaster, P. (2014, July 9). Turkey is becoming a new kind of Silicon Valley. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/group and-bis/turkey-national-renewable-energy-action-plan.pdf think/2014/07/09/turkey-is-becoming-a-new-kind-of-silicon-valley/#47961b1fe1c2 Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey. (n.d.). Hidrolik [Hydraulics]. Retrieved January 11, 2017, from 3 The fastest of the fastest: Turkcell officially launched 4.5G in Turkey. (2016, April 1).Business Wire. Retrieved from http://www. http://www.enerji.gov.tr/tr-TR/Sayfalar/Hidrolik businesswire.com/news/home/20160401005226/en/Fastest-Fastest-Turkcell-Officially-Launches-4.5G-Turkey Richter, A. (2016, November 21). Latest top 10 list of geothermal countries – November 2016 (Power generation capacity). Think Geoenergy. 4 Keysight Technologies, ASELSAN sign 5G R&D strategic partnership memorandum of understanding. (2016, November 15). Keysight Retrieved from http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/latest-top-10-list-of-geothermal-countries-november-2016-power-generation-capacity/ Technologies. Retrieved from http://about.keysight.com/en/newsroom/pr/2016/15nov-nr16113.shtml Turkish Wind Energy Association. (2016, January). Turkiye ruzgar enerjisi istatistik raporu: Ocak 2016 [Turkish wind energy statistics 5 Gurcan, M. (2016, December 12). Will Turkey finally launch space agency?Al-Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ report: January 2016]. Retrieved from http://www.tureb.com.tr/files/bilgi_bankasi/turkiye_res_durumu/2016_turkiye_ruzgar_enerji_ originals/2016/12/turkey-second-military-satellite-launched-space.html istatistik_raporu_ocak_2016.pdf 6 Turkey to offer special incentives in seven key sectors: PM. (2016, October 28).Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved from http://www. EDUCATION hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-offer-special-incentives-in-seven-key-sectors-pm.aspx?pageID=238&nID=105488&NewsCatID=344 7 Arik, B. (2016, December 10). Turkey to focus on ways to improve R&D, says Erdogan. Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from http://aa.com.tr/ Analysis en/todays-headlines/turkey-to-focus-on-ways-to-improve-rd-says-erdogan-/703277 1 Institute of International Education. (2016). Open doors fact sheet: Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/ Open-Doors/Data/Fact-Sheets-by-Country/2016#.WITscrYrJE5 Infographics Gurcan, M. (2016, December 12). Will Turkey finally launch space agency?Al-Monitor. Retrieved from http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ 2 Institute of International Education. (2016). International student totals by place of origin, 2014/15 - 2015/16. In Open doors report on originals/2016/12/turkey-second-military-satellite-launched-space.html international educational exchange. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/International- Students/All-Places-of-Origin/2014-16 Gonultas, B. (2016, December 24). New UN technology bank to be headquartered in Turkey. Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from http:// aa.com.tr/en/economy/new-un-technology-bank-to-be-headquartered-in-turkey/713362 3 Ibid. Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). (2016). Elektronik haberlesme sektorune iliskin il bazinda yillik istatistik 4 Hartocollis, A. (2016, August 5). State Department, citing security, suspends teaching program in Turkey. The New York Times. bulteni [Yearly provincial statistics report for the electronic communications sector]. Retrieved from https://www.btk.gov.tr/ Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/us/state-department-citing-security-suspends-teaching-program-in-turkey. File/?path=ROOT%2f1%2fDocuments%2fPages%2fYearly_Statistics%2fEhsyib_(2010-2015).pdf html?_r=0 Internet usage up in Turkey, thanks in part to smartphones. (2016, September 9). eMarketer. Retrieved from https://www.emarketer.com/ 5 Turkey. (n.d.). Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from https://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries/selected Article/Internet-Usage-Up-Turkey-Thanks-Part-Smartphones/1014458 country/turkey Law on technology and development zones (Law no. 4691), article 3 paragraph b. Adopted: June 26, 2001. Retrieved from http://www. 6 Istanbul, Turkey. (n.d.). Syracuse University Abroad. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://suabroad.syr.edu/destinations/istanbul- wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/tr/tr092en.pdf turkey/ Technoparks in Turkey. (n.d.). ODTU Teknokent. Retrieved December 31, 2016, from http://odtuteknokent.com.tr/en/information/tech Infographics noparks-in-turkey Bogazici University exchange. (n.d.) The University of Iowa: International Programs. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://study- abroad.uiowa.edu/programs/details/index.php?crse=327 The fastest of the fastest: Turkcell officially launched 4.5G in Turkey. (2016, April 1). Business Wire. Retrieved from http://www.business wire.com/news/home/20160401005226/en/Fastest-Fastest-Turkcell-Officially-Launches-4.5G-Turkey Emphasized countries for the Boren Awards. (n.d.). Boren Awards. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from https://www.borenawards.org/ about-us/program-information/emphasized-countries-boren-awards Turkey and Japan sign agreement on space technologies. (2016, September 10). Daily Sabah. Retrieved from http://www.dailysabah.com/ technology/2016/09/10/turkey-and-japan-sign-agreement-on-space-technologies Fulbright grantee directory. (n.d.). Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from https://us.fulbrightonline.org/ component/filter/?view=filter Turkey’s first ever test of 5G technologies achieved speeds of 24.7 Gbps. (2017, January 16).Business Wire. Retrieved from http://www. businesswire.com/news/home/20170116005233/en/Turkey%E2%80%99s-Test-5G-Technologies-Achieved-Speeds-24.7 Hartocollis, A. (2016, August 5). State Department, citing security, suspends teaching program in Turkey. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/06/us/state-department-citing-security-suspends-teaching-program-in-turkey.html?_r=0 Turkey’s technoparks to multiply, boost exports. (2013, July 7). Invest in Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.invest.gov.tr/en-US/infocenter/ news/Pages/290713-turkey-technoparks-to-multiply-boost-exports.aspx Institute of International Education. (2016a). International student totals by place of origin, 2014/15 - 2015/16. In Open doors report on international educational exchange. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/International- Students/All-Places-of-Origin/2014-16 LOOKING AHEAD IN 2017 Institute of International Education. (2016b). Open doors fact sheet: Turkey. Retrieved from http://www.iie.org/Research-and- 1 Arango, T. (2017, January 1). Nightclub massacre in Istanbul exposes Turkey’s deepening fault lines. The New York Times. Retrieved from Publications/Open-Doors/Data/Fact-Sheets-by-Country/2016#.WITscrYrJE5 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/01/world/europe/turkey-istanbul-attack.html Istanbul, Turkey. (n.d.). Syracuse University Abroad. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://suabroad.syr.edu/destinations/istanbul-turkey/ 2 Gurdamar, B. (2017, January 12). US dollar drops against Turkish lira. Anadolu Agency. Retrieved from http://aa.com.tr/en/economy/ us-dollar-drops-against-turkish-lira/725825 Study abroad in Turkey. (n.d.). AIFS Study Abroad. 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Turkish 2016. (n.d.). Critical Language Scholarship Program. Retrieved December 20, 2016, from http://www.clscholarship.org/languages/ turkish/2016
40 41 ABOUT THO THE THO TEAM
WHO WE ARE Ali Cinar is the president of THO. As a Turkish-American, Ali has dedicated much of his life to Turkish- American causes and joined THO to help advance U.S.-Turkey relations. Previously, he served as The Turkish Heritage Organization (THO) is a young, independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) the president of the Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) as well as the Northeast organization that promotes discussion and dialogue around Turkey’s role in the international com- Vice President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA). Prior to joining THO, Ali munity and issues of importance in the U.S.-Turkey bilateral relationship. worked as a businessman and journalist. He has held positions with Western Union and Concord Industries. Throughout his career, he has developed and implemented business programs for top Founded by a group of Turkish-Americans with backgrounds in community leadership and run by global clients and agent networks. a staff with demonstrated interest in and commitment to Turkish-American relations, THO strongly believes that any successful bilateral relationship rests on cooperation and constructive discussion He is a credentialed reporter with the United Nations and the U.S. State Department and has been between the people of both countries. Without taking an institutional position on political issues, published in multiple international publications, including The Washington Post, The Washington THO and its Advisory Board of global scholars and practitioners strive to foster a deep and com- Times, The Hill, Hurriyet Daily News, and Turk of America. He has appeared as a guest analyst on a prehensive dialogue that is independent of any political orientation to strengthen the relationship variety of news networks, including France 24, Voice of America, CCTV, Sky News, CNNTurk, between Turkey and the U.S., as well as the larger international community. Haberturk, and Haber24. In February 2016, he presented witness testimony on Turkey to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
WHAT WE DO Ali received his MBA from the University of New Haven and his BA in Economics from Istanbul THO’s events, programs, research, and publications provide a unique platform for exploring six University. Ali holds several executive business certificates from Harvard University, MIT, and New critical issues in the U.S.-Turkey relationship: York University.
Yenal Kucuker is the executive director of THO. Previously, Yenal worked for the Voice of America Security Economy Education (VOA) Turkish Service. As the former Civic Engagement Director of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), Yenal ran a nation-wide proactive grassroots initiative in advocacy Humanitarian Aid Energy Technology and Congressional outreach in cooperation with the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA). He interned with former Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the co-founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on U.S.-Turkey Relations and Turkish Americans. Yenal holds an MA in Public To highlight these key issues, THO actively partners with leading think tanks, universities, and Policy from the University of Michigan and completed a National Security Education Program nonprofit organizations to host roundtables, panel discussions, and various other programs. (NSEP) scholarship certificate program at Georgetown University. He is the past president of the Additionally, THO works with Turkish and American academics, experts, government officials, Boren Forum, an alumni association for NSEP. and practitioners to produce timely and independent analysis and research on developments in U.S.-Turkey relations. Audrey Williams is a program coordinator at THO. She served as a 2015/16 Fulbright Scholar in Turkey, where she studied the role of non-state actors in Turkey’s relations with Sub-Saharan African countries at Ankara University’s Center for African Studies. Prior to her Fulbright year, Audrey was WHY WE DO IT a program associate at Partnership for a Secure America and a Fall 2013 Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow at the Stimson Center’s Managing Across Boundaries Initiative. Audrey holds a BA in Political The strong partnership between the U.S. and Turkey is rooted in common values and strategic Science and French from the University of Iowa. While completing her undergraduate degree, interests, and it is reinforced by the enduring links between the people of both countries. As an Audrey studied abroad at Bogazici University in Istanbul. organization with Turkish-American roots and broad diaspora networks, we believe it is extremely important to embrace and build on these shared values and relationships. Caysie N. Myers is a program coordinator at THO. Caysie holds a BA in International Relations from Syracuse University. During her undergraduate studies, she spent a semester abroad at Bahcesehir Through its programs and publications, THO aims to encourage and facilitate strong U.S.-Turkey University in Istanbul, where she interned at BAU’s American Studies Center. During her internship, relations by fostering a better understanding between the people of both countries. she conducted research on current affairs in the Middle East and the U.S.’s policy toward the region. During her undergraduate degree, she completed an internship at the International Center of Syracuse, where she helped coordinate itineraries and welcome foreign visitors to the city of Syracuse to learn more about their respective fields of work.
Maria Jonafe Aguila is a graphic designer at THO. As a designer, Maria has worked with BAU International University in Washington, D.C. and Mentora College, both under the BAU Global Network. She has also collaborated with the Global Policy Institute (GPI). Maria is currently a student at George Washington University, where she is pursuing a BFA in Graphic Design at the Corcoran School of Art and Design.
42 43 turkish heritage organization www.turkheritage.org
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turkish heritage organization
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