Yes, dear friends, for some idiosyncratic reasons Turkish State cannot provide new passports on time for ordinary citizens. I have made my application last week but no date is given. We are at the mercy of our officials. And without shame, the PM asks why Muslims countries cannot host Olympic Games…
A foreign policy round up follows:
PM links religion to bid to host Olympic Games
from Hurriyet Daily News
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has questioned why the Olympic Games have never been hosted by a Muslim majority country, speaking to reporters in London.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (2nd L) and his wife Emine Erdogan attend the women’s qualification game Olympic basketball match between Turkey and Angola during the London 2012 Olympic Games July 28, 2012. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Turkey?s Visa Liberalisation ? Benefits and Problems
by Turkish Digest
Turkey?s Visa Liberalisation ? Benefits and Problems
Published: July 25, 2012 15:52, Zhaneta Kuyumdzhieva, trainee, Sofia, updated: today 10:42
As euinside already wrote, at the 50th Association Council on 22 June, will was clearly demonstrated for the start of a process of liberalisation of the visa regime with Turkey. The Vienna based research institute ESI (European Stability Initiative), specialised in Balkan topics, sees nine reasons to apply in practise this intention. Besides the always good effects from integration action (improvement of certain internal policies, alignment with European practises, strengthening of security and, of course, progress towards EU membership), Turkey will get what it needs ? more space. Because, if the European countries that aspire EU membership see a chance for securing resources for better economic performance in the full membership, for Ankara this is an opportunity to spread its indisputable demographic and economic potential. In this sense, the analysis of ESI appears to be concerned to present the benefits for the EU following the visa liberalisation with Turkey rather than the benefits for Turkey itself because the latter are very obvious.
Turkey worries about Kurds in Syrian conflict
from Yahoo news
Holed up in a Turkish safe-house, a Kurdish commander of a Syrian rebel unit makes a novel pitch for more weapons to help his men fight the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey will not support Kurdish Syria
from Yahoo news
The Turkish PM has stated Turkey will not tolerate creation of a Kurdish-run region in Syria.
Kurds and Turks: Business as usual ? for now – Israel News | Haaretz Daily Newspaper
Syria and Israel not invited to AKP’s fast-breaking dinner
from Hurriyet Daily News
The Israeli and Syrian ambassadors have not been invited…
Turkey’s evolving relationship with Europe (Opinion)
from EurActiv.com
As Europe’s political and economic weight declines and Turkey is consolidated as a regional power, cooperation on economic issues will be increasingly supplemented by cooperation in other areas in order to maintain a geopolitical balance in the region and limit the presence of external players, says Stratfor.
Israel argues Turkey killed ?apology? deal
from Hurriyet Daily News
An dead deal on Mavi Marmara incident between Turkey and Israel include ?apology? from Israel, but it was removed at the last minute because of Turkish PM?s call to lift Gaza Strip blocade, Israeli official says
Turkey worries about advance of Syrian Kurds
by Fréderike Geerdink
YUKSEKOVA ? The Turkish government is worried about the advance united Kurdish groups are making in North-east Syria. The Kurdish flag was raised on several government buildings in Kurdish towns in the region. ?Syria shouldn?t fall apart but must stay united?, Ankara has warned the Syrian opposition, according to reports in Turkish media on Tuesday.
EU-Turkey Relations: A Glimmer of Hope?
by Acturca
GTE Commentary (Istituto Affari Internazionali) No. 3, July 2012, 2 p. Dimitar Bechev * Ties between the EU and Turkey have hit such lows over the past few years that even marginal improvements now almost carry a whi? of a breakthrough. As Cyprus takes up the EU Council presidency we are, rather paradoxically, on an
The Danish Presidency and Turkey?s EU Accession: Turning the Page Towards New Positive Agenda
by Acturca
GPoT Brief (GPoT Center) July 2012, 7 p. Sofia Hafdell * The 2012 Danish presidency term of the Council of the European Union (EU) launched the ?Positive Agenda? policy with regards to Turkey?s EU accession process, intending to bring new momentum to the stalled negotiation talks. While the practical outcomes of this policy is
Turkey?s evolving relationship with Europe
by Acturca
EurActiv.com, 24 July 2012 Stratfor (USA) * As Europe?s political and economic weight declines and Turkey is consolidated as a regional power, cooperation on economic issues will be increasingly supplemented by cooperation in other areas in order to maintain a geopolitical balance in the region and limit the presence of external players, says Stratfor. ?The
Turkey closes borders with Syria
Closure in response to worsening security conditions will halt passage of vehicles but is not expected to stem flow of refugees
All Turkey’s border posts with Syria are to be closed to lorries from Wednesday, an official from the Turkish customs and trade ministry has said, in response to worsening security conditions.
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