As European Commission urges ‘different type of relations’ with Turkey, “Ankara prosecutors launch probe into ex-French diplomat for ‘inciting’ Erdoğan’s assassination…

Commission urges ‘different type of relations’ with Turkey EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev The European Union executive urged EU governments yesterday (24 April) to consider changing its relationship with Turkey after a referendum that handed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sweeping powers put Ankara’s stalled membership talks deeper into cold storage. PACE reopens monitoring process against Turkey The Parliamentary … Read more

In the mean time, Preet Bharara founds himself in Turkish drama again as “Turkey Investigating 17, Some Americans, Accused in Failed Coup

Turkey Investigating 17, Some Americans, Accused in Failed Coup  NYT > Turkey by By PATRICK KINGSLEY The inquiry, which targets many prominent Americans, was announced a day before a national referendum to expand the powers of Turkey’s president. Germany receives 262 asylum requests from Turkish diplomats and military officers A total of 262 asylum requests from Turkish … Read more

After 60 years of “membership process”, “Erdoğan: EU is ‘Crusader Alliance’ lying to us…

Erdoğan: EU is ‘Crusader Alliance’ lying to us A meeting last week between EU leaders and Pope Francis in the Vatican is evidence that Europe’s most important union is a “Crusader Alliance” and was consequently avoiding admitting Turkey as a full member, Turkey’s president has said, declaring that the upcoming referendum on charter changes will also … Read more

While Reza Zarrab approaches pro-Trump persons for his legal team, another significant arrest happened: “Halkbank Deputy General Manager Arrested in US

Turk in Sanctions Case Adds Rudolph W. Giuliani to Legal Team NYT > Turkey by By BENJAMIN WEISER and MAGGIE HABERMAN The former mayor is close to President Trump, raising the question of whether he was retained to help resolve Reza Zarrab’s case with the Trump administration. Halkbank Deputy General Manager Arrested in US  Bianet :: English … Read more

Turkey is after the happiest country in the world, Norway, after the latter gives Turkish officers asylum… A FP roundup…

Turkey protests against Norway giving officers asylum  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Ambassador to Ankara summoned after Norway grants political asylum to Turkish officers allegedly linked to failed coup. Debate: Berlin refusing to export arms to Turkey  euro|topics The German government has rejected several requests from Ankara for arms exports in recent months. The human rights situation … Read more

#TulipCrisis- The only rational explanation is…

… that AKP leadership is playing hard to get nationalist MHP voters in the referendum. President Erdoğan is a master tactician when it comes to elections. AKP voters are taken for granted and more MHP voters persuaded, more chance for the “yes” votes in the referendum. After the referendum, Turkey can make peace with Netherlands like she … Read more

European Parliament rapporteur Piri says Situation in Turkey worsening on every visit as just 1,700 arrested over ‘terror propaganda’ via social media across Turkey…

Situation in Turkey worsening on every visit: European Parliament rapporteur Piri The situation in Turkey is worsening on every visit, the European Parliament’s Turkey rapporteur Kati Piri said Feb. 22 during a visit to daily Cumhuriyet with other EU parliamentarians Elisabetta Pietrobon, Mariska Heijs and Jörgen Siil Over 1,700 arrested over ‘terror propaganda’ via social media across … Read more

Turkish presidential spokesperson vs. CENTCOM on Twitter…

‘Is this a joke or has CENTCOM lost its senses?’ asks Turkish presidential spokesperson over tweet on SDF Presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın has reacted against U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) after it posted a statement from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on its Twitter account

In the mean time, Cyprus peace talks: “all you need to know”

Cyprus peace talks – all you need to know World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor Rival leaders of the Mediterranean island, which has been split since 1974, are meeting in Geneva for a summit The purpose of the Geneva talks is to end the partition of the island between the predominantly Turkish … Read more

It seems that (paranoid) conspiracy theories increasingly shape US-Turkey relations…

Accusations about US in Turkish media must stop, State Department’s Kirby says   U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby has warned the Turkish media about making false accusations about the United States. In Turkey’s Unrest, Some See an Extreme Version of Post-9/11 America NYT > Turkey by By TIM ARANGO and RICK GLADSTONE   Turkey’s president and … Read more

Domestically Ashamed in the Mavi Marmara case, Uneasy to challenge Russians, Turkey zeroes in on Iran…

Iranian-Turkish tug-of-war over Kurds al-monitor.com – Dec 13, 1:50 AM Author: Pinar Tremblay December 13, 2016 A few weeks before the devastating Dec. 10 twin bombings in Istanbul — for which Kurdish militants claimed responsibility — Al-Monitor spoke with several sources well-connected with Ankara Turkey drops case against Israeli officers in Gaza flotilla killings BBC News … Read more

In just one day, Erdoğan changed his explanation for why Turkey is in Syria…

Erdoğan’s Target was Assad Yesterday, Just Organizations Today Bianet :: English Explaining that purpose of Turkey’s military offensive into Syria is to “put an end to Assad’s governing” two days ago, Erdoğan today said that their target is not a country or a person. Dutch Ask E.U. to Pressure Turkey Over Crackdown NYT > Turkey by By … Read more

Erdoğan’s latest remarks on Turkish military operations in Syria confuses Russians…

Turkey entered Syria to end al-Assad’s rule: President Erdoğan President Erdoğan admits that Turkey crossed into Syria to get rid of President Bashar al-Assad having previously highlighted the fight against ISIL Erdoğan’s remarks on Turkish operation ‘to end al-Assad rule’ to be discussed during Lavrov visit  President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s recent assertion that the Turkish military operation … Read more

Erdoğan says Turkey may join Shanghai Five, China and Russia seem to be positive about that…

Turkey’s retreat from the West continues… President Erdoğan: EU not everything, Turkey may join Shanghai Five Turkey should not be “fixated” on the idea of joining the European Union and should look at other opportunities, such as the Russia-led Shanghai Pact, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said China says it would consider Turkey membership of Shanghai bloc … Read more

Document: UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to his visit to Turkey, 14-18 November 2016…

Preliminary conclusions and observations by the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to his visit to Turkey, 14-18 November 2016 ohchr.org   ANKARA (18 November 2016) – At the invitation of the Government, I spent this week in Turkey to examine the protection and promotion of the freedom of … Read more