Latest Articles about Turkey
AKP’s Dilemma: How To Accommodate Alevi Demands Within the State Structure
Since the "Grand Alevi Rally” organized by Alevi Bektasi Federation (ABF) on November 10, the Alevi question has been dominating public debate in Turkey. It appears that the Sunni segments of society, secular and religious alike, mostly welcome moderate Alevi demands, although the Alevis themselves... MORE
Dostum Says He Is Not in Exile in Turkey and Remains a Potent Force in Afghanistan
A Turkish newspaper has reported that Rashid Dostum, the leader of ethnic Uzbeks in Afghanistan, was flown to Turkey as part of a special operation arranged by the Turkish government. The report maintained that Dostum might be sent into exile by the Afghan government as... MORE
Turkey’s PKK Responds to AKP Flirtation with the Kurdistan Regional Government
Turkey had high hopes its cross-border operations in the winter of 2007-8 would eliminate the threat posed by the Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan – PKK). The ability of the PKK to strike back in the spring and summer of 2008 through staggering attacks... MORE
Gul Hosts Karzai and Zardari for a Trilateral Summit in Istanbul
Turkey is hosting another major international gathering, marking its growing profile in regional and international diplomacy. Turkish President Abdullah Gul has brought together Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in a trilateral meeting being held in Istanbul on December 5 (www.cnnturk.com,... MORE
President Abdullah Gul Takes an Active Role in Easing Kurdish Unrest
During his visits to different cities in the Kurdish region in early November, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan encountered forceful street protests encouraged by the Democratic Society Party (DTP). Erdogan created deep concern during these visits with his ultranationalist statements. He went so far as to... MORE
Can Turkey’s AKP Survive the Upcoming Local Elections?
Turkish politics is entering a new era of contestation and heightened debate with the approach of the March 2009 municipal elections. The influence of partisan politics in local elections is usually moderate, but Turkish experts generally believe that municipal elections have been shaped by trends... MORE
Ergenekon’s Alliance with the Eurasia Movement in Russia
The daily Sabah has published a document from February 7, 1997, about Tuncay Guney, a former journalist who worked in various news outlets and is now seeking asylum in Canada. Guney is revealed to have been an informant for the Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT),... MORE
Armenian Foreign Minister Visits Turkey, Reaffirms Determination for Dialogue
Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia continue to take steps toward resolving their problems through diplomatic channels. High-level meetings coinciding with international gatherings have become an ordinary development, showing the confidence and progress gained so far.Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian visited Turkey on November 24 to discuss... MORE
What Lies Ahead for U.S.-Turkish Counterterrorism Cooperation in the Obama Era?
The strategic relationship between Turkey and the United States entered into a new phase on November 5, 2007, when President Bush pledged real-time intelligence sharing with the Turkish military while condemning the Kurdistan Workers Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan - PKK): "The PKK is a terrorist... MORE
Arms Shipment to the Kurds May Be a Sign of Conflict Between the KRG and Baghdad
The Washington Post has reported that three C-130 cargo planes delivered small arms and ammunition from Bulgaria to Iraq in September. Three U.S. military officials indicated that the weapons shipment procedure did not comply with Iraqi government regulations. Kurdish officials declined to answer questions about... MORE