Turkish hopes that the official visit to Ankara by Israeli President Shimon Peres would strengthen Ankara’s recently strained relationship with Israel received a setback, following a very public disagreement over the two countries’ attitudes toward Iran and Hamas. The 1996 agreements between Turkey and Israel... MORE

Turkey has stepped up its efforts to become involved in the Middle East peace process by brokering a meeting in Ankara between Israeli President Shimon Peres and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) ahead of the Israeli-Palestinian summit in Annapolis, Maryland, later... MORE

The pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) held a leadership conference on November 8, during which Nurettin Demirtas was elected the new party leader. Demirtas is thought to be less moderate than outgoing party leader Ahmet Türk. Türk surprised everyone in July when, upon entering the... MORE

Iran and Turkey are broadening their energy cooperation to include electricity. According to recent statements by Turkish Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler, Ankara is determined to proceed with energy agreements signed with Tehran earlier this year. Specifically, on August 20 Turkey signed a deal with... MORE

As Turkey continues to mull its options against elements of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) based in northern Iraq, the center-right daily Milliyet has been running a series of interviews with former leading Turkish commanders evaluating the costs and benefits of a cross-border military operation... MORE

The European Commission’s annual Progress Report on Turkey’s candidacy for EU membership, which will be published tomorrow, November 6, will press Ankara to grant greater rights to the country’s ethnic and religious minorities, including its sizeable Kurdish community. The report will be made public amid... MORE

There are increasing signs that Turkey’s threat to stage a military incursion into northern Iraq against camps of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is straining the country’s ties with its Muslim allies. Since it came to power in November 2002, the moderate Islamist Justice Development... MORE

Amid the continuing tensions over a possible Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is pushing ahead with its plans to establish a nuclear power program. On October 24 the Parliamentary Industry, Commerce, Energy, Natural Resources, Information, and Technology... MORE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has delivered his strongest warning yet to the United States and the Iraqi Kurds ahead of his scheduled meeting with President George W. Bush on November 5. Speaking at a reception to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of... MORE