Erkan's field diary

[IN THE PAPERS OF...(1)] ‘Overdue reforms will once again put Turkey’s democracy to the test in 2008’

By ANNE ANDLAUER

Jean Marcou is a researcher at the French Institute for Anatolian Studies in İstanbul, in charge of the Observatory of Turkish Political Life (OVIPOT).

2008 will be an EU year

By ESER KARAKAŞ, STAR

President Abdullah Gül made a statement upon his return from Egypt which can best be summed up as “Turkey’s number one priority is EU membership; 2008 will be an EU year for Turkey.”

SABAH Newspaper English Edition - National - The officers involved in Dink's assassination should be tried

Cyprus: Reversing the Drift to Partition

The UN and EU should strongly encourage Greek and Turkish Cypriots to make "one more major effort" to reunify Cyprus in 2008, argues a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Alliance of civilizations: The package and its contents

Burak BEKDİL

Unease marks backdrop of Karamanlis's visit

Ariana FERENTINOU

'I tell the truth about EU, too'

Mehmet Ali Birand

My Istanbul

By Hans A.H.C. de Wit

Last September I posted an entry about a book, called: 'My Istanbul'. Which is published in Dutch only.
Several days ago, Bernard Bouwman, the author of this book messaged me that this book is in translation and will be in Turkish in the Turkish bookstore's next month (read: February 2008).

İlnur Çevik Ties with Arab world not alternative to EU

Abdülhamit Bilici What is Europe’s attitude toward the headscarf and what is the CHP’s?

Slovenia under France's shadow?

Turkish officials are less concerned about France's pending assumption of the European Union presidency than Slovenia's current term, which began Jan. 1. France, noted for its staunch

Orthodox man leading AKP's youth on Bozcaada

The future of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the island of Bozcaada, near the Çanakkale Strait, has been entrusted to a 26-year-old Turk of Greek origins. Kosta Salto, the son

Real reason for the slowdown

Many reforms that are critical not only in terms of the EU membership process but also of societal demands have been awaiting action by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Cyprus’ history from 1960 to 2008 (9)

This degrading retreat forced Gen. Georgio Grivas to abandon his dreams of taking the Erenköy beachhead from the Turkish Cypriots. The UN called for a cease-fire and it was agreed to by both parties.

Nostalgia for the old AK Party

Hrant Dink was murdered a year ago. It has been a long and painful year. And unfortunately nothing seems to have changed in the ugly dynamics that made this tragedy possible.

Cyprus’ history from 1960 to 2008 (10)

While Archbishop Makarios was making clear his thoughts on the future of Cyprus, similar statements were also being made by Greek leaders in Greece. Some 15,000 Greek troops had actually occupied Cyprus since 1964.

To proceed with reforms

By GÜLAY GÖKTÜRK, BUGÜN

Its failure to make progress to resolve the problems of the religious segment of society leads to growing unease among the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) conservative base.

EU Relations and the trilateral summit

Orhan KİLERCİOĞLU

Revised accesion partnership for Turkey ready - Turkish Daily News Jan 21, 2008

The Mediterranean prelude to Turkey’s EU membership?

Cyprus's two sides at hidden diplomatic war

As the long-divided island of Cyprus seems to be proceeding toward permanent partition amid low prospects for a viable settlement this year, steps by both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to

Turkey lags behind EU in transportation

Despite a number of recent projects that have been well-received, Turkey's transportation policies fail to meet European Union standards. Thanks to a series of promising

Female jurist proposed as Turkey's next judge in top European Court

Turkey might be on its way to sending its first female judge to the European Court of Human Rights after the Turkish government's proposal to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of

The gov't failed in the Hrant Dink case

Murat YETKİN

Yusuf Kanlı: Waiting for Karamanlis

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, the nephew of Costantine Karamanlis who was the last Greek prime minister to visit Turkey in 1959, will be making history on Wednesday when he visits Ankara. The only other visit to Turkey by a Greek prime minister was the one by the legendary Eleftherios Venizelos in 1929.This will be the first visit by a prime minister of the Hellenic Republic to Turkey in 49 years, put aside the fact that it is only the third such visit in the history of the Turkish Republic. The significance of the visit is obvious.Ankara is not hiding its pleasure that Karamanlis – accompanied by his wife Natassa and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis – is coming Turkey fi

Turkey under watch...

Mehmet Ali Birand

I don't get Mr. President

Cüneyt ÜLSEVER