Economy officials said on Thursday Turkey's economy faces challenges arising from the toughening global environment, but it is in better shape compared to the past. The IMF European department's head noted the next two years would be tough."
Defining politics in a way that excludes subjects that fall into the sphere of the official ideology is an awkwardness peculiar to Turkey.
Mustafa AKYOL
As the party congress for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), slated for April 26-27, nears, competition among the party's leader, Deniz Baykal, and his rivals has gotten even fiercer.
Yesterday was the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament. As has become a tradition some kids – and some youngsters who can no longer be considered kids but as a result of an effort by the government to use the day to pass on some important political messages were considered as kids – symbolically took over all the political posts in the country briefly, from the presidency to the speaker of Parliament, prime ministry and governors in provinces.Just a symbolic gesture that indeed has no meaning at all other than trying to fool the kids that those posts would be handed over to them when they are grown up enough! While the entire state system based on de-politici
Mehmet Ali Birand
Diba Nigar GÖKSEL
By M.A.M
In a bus stop ad of Republican Peoples Party/CHP leader Deniz Baykal's right hand does the talking as he qoutes Rumi [1]: "Ya Oldugun Gibi Görün Yada Göründügün Gibi Ol.Appear as you are or be as you appear." In Mr. Baykal's case, (funnily Bay=Mister, Kal=Stay or simply Mr. Stay) he only likes to appear in party conventions where delegates pledge their votes ahead of time. If they do not pledge allegiance they are replaced by party cronies. He can win it all if general elections in a democratic country can be done that way. Not anymore obviously. Turkey has come a long way from one party political years. It is time he adopts another Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi qoute: “Silence is the language of God, all else is poor translation.” Mavi Boncuk
Just as happens ahead of every general assembly of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), opinion leaders have begun questioning whether a change is likely to take place in the party following the convention.
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) may also soon be facing the threat of closure after the country's top prosecutor forwarded to the Constitutional Court a case involving accusations
The top judge of the Constitutional Court dismissed the possibility of a closure case against the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a
It is essential to take foreign readers into account when writing for Today's Zaman. It is only natural that Turkey's political agenda, fairly usual for a Turk, is full of surprises for an alien.
By Jenny White
Click here for an interesting approach to the headscarf debate in an essay by Prof. Ayse Kadioglu. Here is a quote from her essay:
Interestingly, there are two different styles of headscarves: the traditional one is called basörtüsü, and is worn by women who are considered “peasants” even though they live in big cities. They usually work as maids who clean houses and care for children. They are not viewed as dangerous due to their subservient stances. On the other hand, the modern headscarf —called türban—is worn by university students in major Turkish cities. These women claim full citizenship and seek employment in competitive job markets. They show up in the urban cultural milieu such as art exhibitions, concerts, coffee houses and restaurants in their openly religious costumes. They are criticized by the secularist, urban elite for trespassing into a modern territory while dressed in costumes that signify backwardness. In spite of their visible demands, urban women with türban have been unable to become “full” citizens in Turkey in terms of civil, political, and social rights.
By Jenny White on nationalism in Turkey
April 23 is National Sovereignty and Children’s Day in Turkey. Every municipality puts on displays to celebrate nationalism and children. There was a news report that a town in the Antalya region opened the festivities with a child reciting the call to prayer, then the children prayed together. When the girls began their coordinated dance, however, the mayor shut the festivities down because he thought their clothing too revealing (they revealed some stomach).
Here are some scenes from this year:
By Jenny White
What did Onur Oymen of the radically secular-nationalist Republican People’s Party (CHP) really say? In an interview with a US publication, he compared the Turkish headscarf (particularly the contemporary tesettur style) with the black and brown shirts worn by German Nazis and Italian fascists, and he compared the Islamist ideology in Turkey with Nazism and fascism. He later said his comments were taken out of context. Here is what he really said (in English):
The Judges and Prosecutors Association (YARSAV), a professional organization of the judicial bureaucracy, is under the spotlight.
"Try and execute" was once a statement used to describe the judicial system of Soviet Russia. The politburo, as the saying goes, gave these instructions to the court in an attempt to eliminate opposition.
The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will hold its general congress over the weekend. Deniz Baykal is once again a candidate for the party's leadership and appears to not have a viable challenger so far.
Eighty-eight years ago, following the occupation of the then-capital, İstanbul, the leaders of the War of Independence decided to inaugurate a parliament in the middle of Anatolia, namely in Ankara.
Sometimes it seems like the EU has been asking Turkey to amend Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) forever. During every debate, conference, interview or conversation about Turkey there is always a reference to this controversial article.
There is an ongoing debate in Turkey regarding why the majority of the military and judiciary personnel are more inclined to protect the interests of the state than the interests of society, and why they tend to defend certain aspects of democracy rather than the totality of it.
Kjaer goes on to sum up what may be a key argument from SWFs as follows, "Regulation of SWFs risks creating inefficiency by curbing market forces at a time when we need to strengthen both the power and the professionalism of capital owners."
By NAZLI ILICAK, SABAH
I am opposed to the closure of political parties, but we need to behave respectfully toward the rule of law.
Just days before his party's general assembly, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal marked National Children's Day, April 23, by not attending a luncheon hosted by President Abdullah Gül for political party leaders at the presidential residence, Çankaya Palace.
CNET's Web blog Webware has 
My thanks go to Randi and Iman who were extremely friendly and who hosted me for two days. Iman has started 
Turks tend to be cynical about the European Union's intentions when it comes to dealing with the Kurdish issue.
Sezgin Tanrıkulu, the head of the Diyarbakır Bar Association, says a considerable part of the Kurdish population sees armed struggle as legitimate because they think they are excluded from the democratic process. 
This is some very 
EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said German Die Welt daily that he expected Turkey to join the EU within 10-15 years in case it maintained reforms firmly. Rehn said the EU was planning to open two new chapter headings with Turkey in June.... 
Eser Karakaş, a professor of economics and head of Bahçeşehir University’s European Union division, has said Turkey could find a permanent solution to the approaching food crisis in a customs union agreement with the EU on agricultural products and services.
BusinessWeek is out with the yearly review of the most innovative companies -- the 2008 edition launched today. Apple is rated highest in innovation in the technology category and second in the media/entertainment category. 