Turkey FP roundup. Turkey bites tongue over Greek border wall plan, angry with Merkel over Cyprus…

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) shakes hands with European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton before their meeting in Istanbul January 13, 2011. Ashton is in Istanbul to meet with Turkish officials ahead of next week’s talks between Iran and major powers on the former’s nuclear programme.? Read more »REUTERS/Murad Sezer

Real actors take the field: Reflections on Merkel?s visit to Cyprus by Mehmet Hasgüler & Murat Özkaleli

from Today’s Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news :: Interviews
German Chancellor Angela Merkel?s visit to the Greek Cypriot administration, which came in the wake of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev?s visit, the signing of agreements between Israel and southern Cyprus and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou?s reference to Turkey as an ?occupier? in Cyprus during his visit to Erzurum have caused attention to focus on the long idle Cyprus issue.

Mendacious Merkel

from Hurriyet Dailynews by HDN
If Angela Merkel wants to force Turkey to choose between Cyprus and its EU bid, the Turkish community may wonder whether Turkey actually could have a place in the EU.

Turkey bites tongue over Greek border wall plan

from Yahoo news
The prime ministers of Greece and Turkey voiced solidarity in their approach to tackling the growing problem of illegal immigration, after the Greek government announced plans to fence part of its border.

Plans for a wall on Greece’s border with Turkey embarrass Brussels

from World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk

Barrier is latest attempt to stem flow of illegal migrants attempting to enter the EU through Greece

The Greek government’s plans to build a wall three metres high along part of its border with Turkey have prompted confusion in Brussels. The project, unveiled by the minister of civil defence, Christos Papoutsis, aims to restrict illegal immigration in an area with no natural barriers. The strip of land has become a major thoroughfare for migrants attempting to enter the European Union, with 90% of illegal migrants now passing through Greece.

Greece: Uproar over plan to build border fence and expel migrants

from Global Voices Online by Asteris Masouras

By Asteris Masouras

Greek Citizen Protection minister Christos Papoutsis provoked fierce reactions on new year’s eve, by announcing his government’s new zero-tolerance immigration policy:

…………….
Imaginative imagery

Photo collages of the proposed fence sprung up quickly. Freelance photojournalist Craig Wherlock produced a haunting remix of a well known tourist poster:

Discover the hidden treasures of our country #teixos -By Craig Wherlock

Turkish PM: Israel must remove foreign minister

from Hurriyet Dailynews
The Turkish prime minister on Wednesday called on Israelis to remove their foreign minister in a interview with the Arabic news channel al-Jazeera.

Global opening vision and facts

from Hurriyet Dailynews by HDN
FM Ahmet Davutoğlu?s ‘global opening’ vision gives a new objective to Turkish diplomacy. However, we should consider the facts and take balanced and prudent steps forward.

Turkey’s ‘visionary’ diplomats shape ‘visionary’ diplomacy

from Hurriyet Dailynews by ERZURUM – Hürriyet Daily News
To find ways to clarify their mission for themselves, the general public and their foreign hosts, Turkey?s ambassadors gather to discuss the ?visionary? diplomacy espoused by the leader of the Foreign Ministry, Ahmet Davutoğlu. Ambassadors say they enjoyed their trip to Erzurum, after days of meetings in Ankara, and the chance to meet locals and learn about the culture and history of the region on the side of the weeklong conference

La Turquie au carrefour d?enjeux stratégiques

by acturca

Revue Tiers Monde, n° 194, 2/2008 (Avril-Juin 2008)

Depuis quelques années, les ouvrages et les débats sur la Turquie sont relativement nombreux. La raison essentielle tient sans doute à la candidature turque à l?Union européenne (UE). Au cours de ces débats très vifs, souvent excessivement passionnés et passionnels, on a beaucoup insisté sur l?appartenance historique, géographique, culturelle du pays candidat à l?entité européenne?.

Turkey and the EU: A ?New? European Identity in the Making?

by acturca

LEQS Paper No. 27, October 1, 2010, 29 p.

Ingrid Kylstad

Assessing Turkey?s Foreign Policy Strategy and Missed Opportunities in the West

A recent public opinion poll shows that 43% of Turkish citizens surveyed view the United States as the biggest threat the country. Israel was viewed by 23.7% as the biggest threat, while traditional ?enemy? Greece was viewed as the biggest threat by only 2.3% (Iran 3%, Iraq 2.1%, Russia 1.7%).”

Turkey?s Biggest Threat? Ask Uncle Sam

by acturca

The Wall Street Journal (USA), January 7, 2011

By Joe Parkinson

Turkey?s neighborhood is often considered a bit rough round the edges: conflict-riven Iraq to the south, nuclear-aspirant Iran next door, the restless Caucasian states and the Russian bear to the East. Even to the west, in New Europe, the bordering Balkan states have been plagued by periodic conflict.

Turquie: Erdogan s?inscrit dans la durée

L?Echo (Belgique), 8 janvier 2011

Jean-Michel Lalieu

Lors des élections de juin, l?AKP devrait sortir vainqueur des urnes pour la troisième fois d?affilée. Un record !

En prenant les rênes de la Turquie, fin 2002, le Parti de la justice et du développement (AKP) de Recep Tayyip Erdogan a surpris la communauté internationale. Il a aussi fait craindre pour le caractère laïc de ce grand pays, à cheval entre Orient et Occident, parce qu?il se revendique d?un islamisme modéré.

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