Monthly Archives: June 2012

With the embattled Syrian minority regime officially designated as a “hostile state” by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Rayyip Erdoğan — who was unequivocally clear this Tuesday during a speech in Parliament that Bashar al-Assad’s government represents a “clear and present … Continue reading →

There is no doubt that Turkey, the second largest military force in the NATO military alliance after the US, has the capability and the capacity to destroy the Syrian army, or what is left of it anyway after so many … Continue reading →

Faced with overwhelming and compelling evidence that implicates suspects in the Sledgehammer (Balyoz) trial, in which the defendants are accused of attempting to overthrow the democratically elected government in 2003 by attempting to wreak havoc in Turkey with a series … Continue reading →

I hear that Greek Cypriots have been secretly trying to strike a deal with Turkey on how to best manage the EU’s rotating presidency for six months starting July 1. The efforts are well under way so that the Greek … Continue reading →

There is yet another piece of evidence indicating that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has been suffering from reform fatigue and a lack of vigor: The neutered Ombudsman Law that was passed in Parliament late Thursday night. … Continue reading →

Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan cast doubt on the credibility of the whistle-blowing Internet site WikiLeaks when it started publishing a massive release of confidential US diplomatic cables in 2010, many about Turkey, I think one cable that profiled … Continue reading →

While Turkey was chairing the Council of Europe’s (CoE) executive arm, the Committee of Ministers, for six months from Nov. 2010 to May 2011, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu pledged that Turkey would implement long-delayed reforms, which had been a source … Continue reading →

It seems the blowback from the breakup between Turkey and its southern neighbor Syria over President Bashar al-Assad’s deadly crackdown on the opposition, which craves democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law, has so far not had much impact … Continue reading →

When I read the statement by Gabriel Mocho, the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) civil aviation section secretary, accusing the Turkish government of “a deliberate attempt to target the very existence of the Hava Is [Turkish Civil Aviation Union] … Continue reading →