More moves on the Eastern front…
EDITORS’ NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) shakes hands with Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a meeting in Tehran October 27, 2009.
REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi
“In Gaza, I was surprised and shocked by the destruction and misery there. I had not expected it. I did not anticipate that the IDF would have targeted civilians and civilian objects. I did not anticipate seeing the vast destruction of the economic infrastructure of Gaza including its agricultural lands, industrial factories, water supply and sanitation works. These are not military targets. I have not heard or read any government justification for this destruction.
The photo below has to be included here. From the Turkey-Armenia game. As far as I understood it was an operation by Young Civilians.
In the crisis between Israel and Turkey it should be noted Israel reacted too much to a serial that was not popular at all. I haven’t heard anybody discussing Ayrılık episodes. And as far as I know the serial was not in the top 100 ratings list. Now I hear producers are happy that people will be curious and watch the serial. There had to be a stronger reaction to Valley of the Wolves movie who had a substantive anti-semitic emphasis in some parts. Ayrılık hadonce made it to popular discourse through what Zeynep Tokuş , an actress and former beauty pageant winner was wearing:
A roundup follows:
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT
accompanying the
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION
TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL
Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2009-2010
And another roundup on Turkey’s foreign policy issues and its place in Europe:
It looks like France has given asylum to Cem Uzan, Cem Uzan granted political asylum in France, says lawyer) not exactly asylum but a temporary permit to live in France. Mr. Uzan is probably the most corrupt person of recent decades in Turkey and his later right wing-populist party produced enough damage to Turkish politics and not France gives him a helping hand. Congratulations.
In connection to Davos-Gaza instance, Turkey seems to extend her objection to Israeli moves by excluding the latter from the regular military exercises that take place in Turkey. These exercises have been long subject to criticism in Islamic press and radical press and I assume government could not continue to involve Israel/ could not resist the critical public opinion especially after Erdogan’s Davos’ reaction. A huge roundup on Armenia-Turkey relations follow up. I have to admit: I am ashamed that I do not know much about what was particularly signed between Turkey and Armeania. I suspect many do not know. Its symbolic value overrides what is actually there…
Hail to the Turkey-Armenia deal to be signed today.
After a drama, the deal is about to be signed right now…Yes, it is signed. Signatories are so tense, as if anything could happen…
A roundup as usual:
Posters are seen at a small demonstration organized by France’s far-right National Front party to protest the lighting of the Eiffel Tower in the red and white colours of Turkey’s flag as part of the “Season of Turkey” events in Paris October 8, 2009. Poster at left reads, “Shame on the Partnership of France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy and Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe”. Poster at right reads, “With the National Front Party, Defend our National Colours” with the Eiffel Tower in the Blue, White, Red colours of France’s flag. REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen
People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the “Season of Turkey in France”, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Turkey is counting on joining the European Union by 2015 to bolster both its and the EU?s global role, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Friday. ?Even 2015 is too late, not only for us, it will be too late for the EU as well,? Davutoğlu said at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.
The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the ‘Season of Turkey in France’, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
Well, Turkish political agenda is full of new openings and summer was not a vacation time. Alas, I was in a sort of vacation and thus missed blogging about these openings (and crises, of course).
Brief ideas on the Kurdish opening:
1) High officials in the Turkish army backs the gov’t move. Without that backing, I do not believe AKP would be courageos enough to declare the move.
2) In the last elections, AKP realized that there is no way it can win hearts of CHP voting masses in Western, and Southern parts of Anatolia. Plus, despite the dose of rising nationalism, AKP lost votes to nationalist MHP in Central Anatolian towns. On the other hand, in Kurdish lands, AKP has a real chance. This opening may win some extra votes. This opening might be a "revenge" against nationalist Turks.
3) Nationalist reactions stayed at a ridiculous level. MHP leader’s too angry rhetoric reaches to absurdity instead of substantive opposition. CHP is already in an absurd situation since it now rejects what it had proposed as solution to Kurdish crisis decades ago…
But of course, those opposing the opening, were quick to manipulate the funeral of killed Turkish soldiers… No surprise; hawks of both sides do not like an opening.
In the mean time, another opening comes with the Armenian side. And yet another comes with the EU as the wise men talk. Unfortunately, the gov’t scores miserably against the media. Even I am getting angry with gov’t moves against the Doğan Media Group. All about these can be found below…
by ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ
It is unbelievable but I have only 12 days left here. I do not have any night duties any more and thus I can sleep more and there is less physical work to do. I will probably be more online by next week. Last weekend there was the Victory Day celebrations and we were not … Read more
What really happened in 1915?. 1915 Article in National Geographic is quite a source. The article was written by a professor at the American College for Girls in Constantinople from 1900-1909……
A German court’s visa regulation about Turkish visitors is notable….
Israeli Chief of Staff officially apologizes because of Gen. Mizrahi’s statements…
Mr. Obama will not likely to use the word "genocide", so that there is less tension between TR-US recently..
There more op-eds about Turkey’s new foreign policy attempts and more questions arise whether Turkey leaves the "Western" front or not…
and there is more of course…
A controversial documentary was intended to be shown in all primary school in Turkey. For the moment, Ministry of Education backs up after increasing reactions. The documentary supports the official line in Armenian Genocide claims and but does it in quite a graphic way as some articles in the following round up highlights. Despite various positive developments in our Foreign policy, this does not seem to have a parallel development in lower levels of education system. I haven’t myself done a research, but what I hear from colleagues suggest that most of the newly written text books continue to reproduce grossly biased historical and political claims…
Turkey’s Education Ministry has halted the distribution of a controversial documentary about the Armenian issue to all elementary schools after its move incited fierce reactions among academics and intellectuals.
Turkey’s EU process seems to have peripherialized in Turkish foreign policy but that does not mean there is no progress. There is at least some "stirring" recently. The new chief negoatiator, Egemen Bağış, whose sole duty will be the negotiation itself will certainly have an impact. There is a huge roundup here on TR’s EU process. Towards the end of the post, there is a roundup on the Davos aftermath. There are a few pieces on linking TR’s EU process to developments in the Middle East. Finally, there is the case of Atilla Olgaç, that I could not cover before. I have to agree with Hans who labelled him as "just another idiot amongst others"……