Back to West. Turkey announces EU accession strategy and says it plans to stop flow of IS fighters

Turkey announces EU accession strategy  EurActiv.com Turkey said today (18 September) that crises in the Middle East and elsewhere made closer co-operation between Ankara and the European Union essential and announced a new programme to revive the country’s stalled drive for EU membership. EU Minister promotes Turkey’s new EU strategy Turkey provides a more detailed account of how … Read more

Looks like President wants to bankrupt a bank, Bank Asya…

Trading of Bank Asya shares suspended again after sharp fluctuations Turkish stock exchange Borsa Istanbul briefly suspended the trading of Islamic lender Bank Asya shares Sept. 18, citing extraordinary movements in the exchange of the lender’s shares. President Erdoğan again slams Gezi protesters, declares pro-Gülen bank ‘already bankrupt’ Erdoğan has signaled no change to his tone as … Read more

No Surprise here: “Turkey to welcome seven top Muslim Brotherhood members, Erdoğan says.

Turkey to welcome seven top Muslim Brotherhood members: Erdoğan Seven top figures from the Muslim Brotherhood who are being forced to leave Qatar are welcome to come to Turkey, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ISIL drawing a steady stream of recruits from Turkey: Report Hurriyet Daily News Turkey is one of the biggest source of recruits … Read more

After messing up more and more in MidEast, “President Erdoğan to ‘prioritize EU bid’ after October

President Erdoğan to ‘prioritize EU bid’ after October Hurriyet Daily News President Erdoğan says he is planning to carry out frequent visits to European capitals after Parliament reopens on Oct. 1 in a bid to accelerate Turkey’s European Union accession process EU Minister criticizes ‘concerns’ of foreign diplomat over Internet law Turkey’s EU Minister Volkan Bozkır criticizes … Read more

Kerry in town to persuade reluctant Turks…

  Kerry arrives in Ankara seeking support for anti-ISIL coalition U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Ankarafor talks aimed at building a coalition against ISIL, a visit that comes after Turkey refused to allow the use of its air bases for launching attacks on the extremists Arabs back anti-ISIL statement as Turkey abstains w Key … Read more

Mostly Kurdish bit, a little EU negotiations on the new cabinet agenda…

Key corruption probe targeting President Erdoğan’s son dismissed The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has ruled that there are no legal grounds for the prosecution of 96 suspects, including President Erdoğan’s son Bilal Erdoğan, on allegations off corruption Turkish PM Davutoğlu mandates Arınç over Kurdish peace bid With the minor Cabinet reshuffle, the dossier on the Kurdish resolution … Read more

Turkey’s new PM to be chosen in AKP Congress where 13 Media Institutions banned.

6,000 people honor Atatürk’s memory by forming his portrait **************** ‘AKP chair, not leadership, is changing hands’ Here are the first impressions from the ruling party’s congress in Ankara Accreditation Barrier for 13 Media Institutions by AKP 13 media institutions, including Cihan News Agency, were restrained from broadcasting AKP congress on the account that they weren’t accredited. These … Read more

A staunchly pro-AKP columnist desires for a Pol Pot style government…

Yusuf Kaplan in an article entitled, 20 suggestions for Erdoğan, published in AKP’s Pravda, Yeni Şafak declared that: 19- Bogaziçi, Bilkent and ODTÜ, which are being the volunteer agencies of other cultures, should be ‘demolished’ and in their place pilot universities, which are similar to Ivy League universities in the U.S.A. that trace the American culture and world … Read more

Soner Çağaptay believes “Turkey’s Future Will Be Liberal… Dispatches from Turkey

If we survive, this might actually be true…. After Erdogan, Turkey’s Future Will Be Liberal  NYT > Turkey by By SONER CAGAPTAY Erdogan won on Sunday, but the era of Islamist dominance is ending. Today’s young Turks want real democracy. PM Erdoğan vows to hand over AKP leadership after consultations PM Erdoğan has vowed to hand over the … Read more

Police Brutality in #Ferguson, US #MikeBrown

    Riot police the same from Ferguson to France AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Police, worldwide, use similar non-lethal weapons to maintain social order and stop political violence.

Anthropology roundup: “Saving Syria’s Antiquities

Saving Syria’s Antiquities tabsir.net The turmoil and ruthless slaughter that is destroying both lives and heritage in Syria has multiple consequences. Beyond the humanitarian crisis, which is huge, there is widespread looting of antiquities in a country where there is a valuable heritage. Dr. Amr Al-Azm has started a campaign to save these antiquities. Details below. Click … Read more

Not surprising Pew Reserch Findings: Polarization increases in Turkey… Erdoğan’s favorability in the region falls…

Turkish deputy PM slams women ‘having vacation without husbands’ Bülent Arınç defends his criticism against ‘laughing women’ with a puzzling complaint about ‘pole climbers’ Spam messages reign in Turkish presidential hopefuls’ campaigns Turkey’s presidential hopefuls have continued campaigning by sending text messages to mobile phone users Turks Divided on Erdogan and the Country’s Direction pewglobal.org – Jul 30, 2:55 … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Bodies of #MH17 victims arrive in Holland…

  Myths and Misreporting About Malaysia Airlines Flight 17  Slate Articles by Martin Enserink A consultative Council of Citizens: for a new policy of participation in Europe  open Democracy News Analysis – by Patrizia Nanz and Raphaël Kies People are no longer content simply to take part in elections and to delegate all their power to political representatives. If … Read more

FP roundup: Turkish FM Davutoğlu’s fiery Gaza speech…”Israeli tourists canceling holiday reservations in Turkey…

  VIDEO: Turkish FM Davutoğlu’s fiery Gaza speech rekindles ‘quagmire Middle East’ debate Hurriyet Daily News FM Davutoğlu described the region as “the center of the divine revelation that raised consciences and humanity”   Israeli tourists canceling holiday reservations in Turkey after gov’t warning A Turkish tourism agency operator said 4,000 cancellations had been made … Read more

Turkish FM believes that they “fight colonizers in Middle East,’ while “Turkish delegation heads to US to talk Iraq, Israel and bilateral ties

  In Pictures, Worldwide Protests Against Israeli Military Action in Gaza Mashable! by Katie Sola Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the streets of Paris over the weekend to rally against Israel’s invasion of Gaza, defying a ban on pro-Palestinian protests ‘We will fight colonizers in Middle East,’ Turkish FM vows  Hurriyet Daily News Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has … Read more