Turkey’s Stalinist prosecution of journalists for tweets and blogs

Source:Washington Post Date:28Dec2017

THESE ARE dark days for journalists in Turkey, now the leader among governments that imprison news-gatherers. In one week alone, nearly 70 journalists were on trial on false accusations of

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Turkey and Syria engage in a war of words as Erdogan and Assad call each other “terrorists”

Source:South China Morning Post Date:28Dec2017

It amazes me to find many well-informed pundits claiming that Erdogan has changed Syria policy in the direction of recognizing Assad’s legitimacy.  Turkey has not conceded defeat in Syria.

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Baghdad lists 13 preconditions for talks with Kurds

Source:The National Date:27Dec2017

Baghdat is not serious about negotiating a new autonomy treaty with Kurds. The list of pre-conditions amount to full capitulation and cessation of any Kurdish  soveregnity.  The result of the

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Erdogan Trains His Broom on a Sweep of Turkey’s Governing Party

Source:New York Times Date:27Dec2017

Erdogan’s reform efforts in AKP are likely to fail, because the main problem lies with his policies, not the rank-and file. By the way, the party is losing support big time:  Mr. Erdogan

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Turkey’s waning fertility threatens Erdoğan’s vision of strength

Source:The Guardian Date:27Dec2017

Wow…Turkey is aging very rapidly.   Though Turkey remains the second most populous country in Europe after Germany, with a population of 79.5 million, and has one of the lowest median

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U.S. jury in trial of Turkish banker shows signs of division

Source:Reuter's Date:23Dec2017

A New York jury in the trial of a Turkish banker accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions showed signs of division on Friday as it ended its third day of deliberations without reaching a verdict.

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Pro-Erdogan media targets Saudis after Trump’s Jerusalem decision

Source:al Monitor Date:23Dec2017

Pinar Trembley explores a relatively less visited corner of Turkish diplomacy namely relations with Gulf kingdoms. Relations worsened after Ankara’s advocacy of Qatar against the Arab

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Turkish youth overwhelmingly against ‘other,’ study says

Source:Hurriyet Daily News Date:23Dec2017

Bad news is that young Turks are increasigly prejudiced againts the “other”, goos news is secularism and Kemalism is back in vague.

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Erdoğanomics risks overheating Turkey

Source:Politico Date:19Dec2017

This article with ample quotes from me and clsoe friend Tim Ash  highlights the side effects of gang-ho growth.  It is the best so far outside investment banking-supranational space.

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Turkey’s foreign policy challenges in 2018

Source:Hurriyet Daily News Date:19Dec2017

The former ambassador writes:  All these make Turkey an important catalyzer between Europe and the Middle East. Turkey has been unable to perform in compliance with such expectations in 2017. Let

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