Bashiqa camp crisis. Erdogan, whose soldiers remain in Iraqi soil, rejects moving them and tells Iraq PM to ‘know his limits’

Backed by Putin, Turkey seems to have started a new crisis that will weaken relations with US. I am not sure too much reliance on Russia is a good thing. OR this is just another stunt for the domestic audiences… Erdogan tells Iraq PM to ‘know his limits’, says will not get orders on Bashiqa … Read more

Just what Turkey needs: “Erdoğan biopic to hit Turkish screens

Erdoğan biopic to hit Turkish screens: Producer Shooting will start next week on a feature film tracing the early career of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from his childhood in a poor district in Istanbul to his rise to become the city’s mayor, its producers said Jan. 15 Unemployment continues to stand at double digits in Turkey The … Read more

A weekend in Iraqi Kurdistan….

I happened to pay a visit to Kurdistan region, Iraq last weekend. It was one of the most satisfactory visits I had recently. I visited Sulaymaniyah and Erbil. I flew from İstanbul to Sulaymaniyah and travelled to Erbil by car to fly back to İstanbul. Between these two biggest cities of Kurdistan (it takes 3 hours to go) … Read more

After all anti-zionist hubbub, AKP is back to rapprochement with Israel…

Turkish official confirms talks, understanding with Israel Israel and Turkey have reached a preliminary agreement to normalize relations, including the return of ambassadors to both countries, Reuters quoted an Israeli official as saying on Dec 17 ‘Defaming Erdogan’: Criminal complaint filed against Putin in Turkey RT Furthermore, Mahir Akkar, a suspect in the Ergenekon ‘coup plot’ … Read more

In the end, “More than 20 Cizre civilians dead during eight-day curfew…

More than 20 Cizre civilians dead during eight-day curfew: Relatives More than 20 civilians died in the southeastern town of Cizre of the Şırnak province in clashes during the eight-day curfew between Sept. 4 and 12, eyewitnesses and relatives of the dead have elaborated on how the civilian deaths occurred. What Happened in Cizre While Governor Says … Read more

Nov. 1 as snap election date proposed and under normal conditions HDP could be Turkey’s 3rd biggest party…

HDP could be Turkey’s 3rd biggest party, says pollster head The Kurdish problem-oriented Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) could become Turkey’s third biggest political party, according to the head of the polling company which had made the most accurate estimations prior to the June 7 parliamentary election Turkey’s top election board proposes Nov. 1 as snap election date … Read more

These underage civilians were killed by special forces and the Ağrı Governor labelled them as terrorists…

Two people killed by Turkish army in the east were underage civilians, says mayor Even though the eastern province of Ağrı’s governorate stated three members of the outlawed PKK had been killed in clashes after PKK members staged an attack on the Gendarmerie Command, the mayor of the district has claimed two of the dead were … Read more

End of ceasefire cost in one month: 24 Turkish security officers dead…

PKK militants kill 24th Turkish security officer in one month A Turkish police officer was killed and three others were injured in an attack on an armored police vehicle in southeastern Şırnak province late Aug. 7, increasing the death toll in PKK attacks to 24 in one month. HDP co-chair urges PKK and Turkish gov’t to resume … Read more

Use of assembly and demonstration rights in Turkey is more restricted while another provocation occurs in Silopi…

New decree to restrict use of assembly and demonstration rights in Turkey A change in the 1985-dated decree regulating the right to assembly and demonstrate restricts the use of this right considerably. Silopi today: Police Attack in Southeastern Province: 3 Deaths Bianet :: English According to HDP deputies İrmez and Encü, the police opened fire in Şırnak … Read more

Armenia loses hope, withdraws normalization protocols signed in 2009…

Armenia Withdraws “Normalization” Protocols From Parliament  Bianet :: English Following Armenia’s withdrawal from normalization protocols signed in 2009, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry made a statement, saying that Armenia’s decision was “unfortunate”. Frustration over Özgecan Aslan continues in Turkey:  Death penalty is not solution, says Özgecan’s father The father of Özgecan Aslan, a 20-year-old student who was brutally killed … Read more

As Erdoğan’s doesn’t care about EU criticism, Andrew Duff: Negotiations should now be suspended! #GazetecilerDerhalBırakılsın

  Erdoğan has no right to deprive Turkish people of EU membership The year-long fight between the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Fethullah Gülen community entered a new phase after the detentions of daily Zaman editor-in-chief Ekrem Dumanlı Erdoğan shoots himself in foot on anniversary of graft probe Turkish President Erdoğan has been blasting … Read more

The President Who Ate Turkey… Dispatches from Turkey…

The President Who Ate Turkey POLITICO – Steven A. Cook – Without fail every year, starting around November 10, my #Turkey Twitter feed is jammed with not just the latest news from Ankara and Istanbul, but also Auntie Jean’s turkey recipe and suggestions about how to deep fry the bird without blowing up… Foreigners don’t like … Read more

What do you know? “Erdoğan says America was discovered by Muslims, not Columbus

Erdoğan says America was discovered by Muslims, not Columbus Hurriyet Daily News America was discovered by Muslims in 1178, not by Christopher Columbus in 1492, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has claimed, vowing to build a mosque in Cuba if authorities issue permission. In the same speech, he slammed those who use Islam for political means … Read more

“Ruling on power plant project in Soma olive grove ‘leaked to company’ so that fell down 6 thousand trees before they received it…

CHP deputy questions wiretapping claims over AKP trolls It has been alleged that Internet trolls linked to the ruling Justice and Development Party have established firms to cover up their illegal wiretappings Ruling on power plant project in Soma olive grove ‘leaked to company’ Kolin officials allegedly moved to cut the trees before the decision to halt … Read more

Iraq Kurd fighters on Turkey border await to join Kobane; Biden to visit Turkey next month…

  US Vice President Joe Biden to visit Turkey next month US Vice President Joe Biden next month visits Ukraine as well as Turkey, where fighting across the border in the Syrian town of Kobane has sparked tensions with Washington Iraq Kurd fighters leave base for Syria deployment: report More than 150 Kurdish peshmerga fighters left a … Read more