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Thursday, January 31, 2019

Turkey 'disappointed' over Japan's new visa system

Turkey 'disappointed' over Japan's new visa system

Japan will not accept workers from Turkey under new visa system starting from April

More:Turkey 'disappointed' over Japan's new visa system

Turkey in a pickle over Syrian olives - BBC News

Turkey in a pickle over Syrian olives
By News from Elsewhere... ...as found by BBC Monitoring

When Turkey launched a military offensive in northern Syria last January and called it Operation Olive Branch, many dismissed the name as part of a propaganda campaign.

More:Turkey in a pickle over Syrian olives - BBC News

US probing whether Turkey-Venezuela trade violates sanctions: report | TheHill

US probing whether Turkey-Venezuela trade violates sanctions: report
By Rachel Frazin - 01/31/19 02:17 PM EST

The United States is investigating whether trade between Venezuela and Turkey violates sanctions against Venezuela and plans to act on any violations, according to a new report.

More:US probing whether Turkey-Venezuela trade violates sanctions: report | TheHill

bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s inflation fever: central bank cuts forecast, eggplants vanish from shelves

Turkey’s inflation fever: central bank cuts forecast, eggplants vanish from shelves

Amid Erdogan’s ire over high prices supermarkets stop selling expensive vegetables.

More:bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s inflation fever: central bank cuts forecast, eggplants vanish from shelves

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Erdogan Still Making Mass Arrests in Fethullah Plot – Three Years Later - The Media Line

Erdogan Still Making Mass Arrests in Fethullah Plot – Three Years Later
By Michael Friedson | The Media Line

January 30, 2019

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has apparently discovered a sector he overlooked as he carried out thousands of arrests of those, he deems to have been part of a 2016 coup d’état that failed. Almost three years after surviving the attempt to overthrow him, Erdogan is decimating the ranks of the military again, this time arresting 63 more, 46 of whom are army helicopter pilots serving on active duty. Since the incident, Erdogan has arrested “tens of thousands” of people, many of whom are military or are journalists, as part of his crackdown. He still blames the Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, who lives in a self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, for orchestrating the coup despite denials from Gulen. Arrest raids are said to be taking place virtually every day.

More:Erdogan Still Making Mass Arrests in Fethullah Plot – Three Years Later - The Media Line

Shadow of foul play descends early on Turkey's local polls

Shadow of foul play descends early on Turkey's local polls

Sibel Hurtas January 29, 2019

Article Summary Turkey’s municipal polls are still two months away, but the opposition is already alarmed over possible vote manipulation.

More:Shadow of foul play descends early on Turkey's local polls

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Turkey at a crossroads - New Eastern Europe - A bimonthly news magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs

Turkey at a crossroads

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey originally founded itself as a secular, anti-establishment party. Now that its leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has effectively eliminated institutional controls and silenced opposition, AKP has become the de facto establishment and amended its narrative and policies to capitalise on the increasingly authoritarian mood. As the global availability of cheap credit dwindles, will Erdogan’s government resort to further authoritarian measures?

More:Turkey at a crossroads - New Eastern Europe - A bimonthly news magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs

Erdogan: Safe zones in Syria will allow refugees to return home | Syria News | Al Jazeera

Erdogan: Safe zones in Syria will allow refugees to return home

Turkish president says safe zones to be set up in northern Syria will allow more refugees to go back to the country.

More:Erdogan: Safe zones in Syria will allow refugees to return home | Syria News | Al Jazeera

Economic woes set to seal fate of Turkey’s local polls

Economic woes set to seal fate of Turkey’s local polls
READ IN: Türkçe
Ayla Ganioglu January 28, 2019

Article Summary
Public opinion polls show that economic problems have climbed to the top of the Turkish public’s concerns and electoral support for the ruling party is on the decline ahead of municipal elections in March.

More:Economic woes set to seal fate of Turkey’s local polls

Venezuela: A Rare Case of Turkish-Greek Harmony - The Globalist

Venezuela: A Rare Case of Turkish-Greek Harmony

Why is Greece supporting a dictatorship in Venezuela that is as bad as the Colonels’ Junta that ruled Greece from 1967 to 1974?

Erdogan considers Maduro “a brother.” Both men are surely connected by the non-virtue of their heavily authoritarian tastes in politics.
Like the Saudi and other petrol dictatorships, Venezuela suffers from the modern curse of being too rich for its own good.
The Maduro regime is a dictatorship run by a group who has taken control of the state for their personal benefit.

More:Venezuela: A Rare Case of Turkish-Greek Harmony - The Globalist

Monday, January 28, 2019

Turkish passport demand soars as rules relaxed | Financial Times

Turkish passport demand soars as rules relaxed

Ankara gains as applicants invest in property to qualify for citizenship

More:Turkish passport demand soars as rules relaxed | Financial Times

Turkey pledges to enter Syria so refugees can return

Turkey pledges to enter Syria so refugees can return

Ayla Jean Yackley
January 28, 2019

Article Summary

Frustrated by the slow progress on a proposed buffer zone in northeast Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled Turkey could go it alone, saying it would allow some of the millions of Syrians sheltering in Turkey to go home.

More:Turkey pledges to enter Syria so refugees can return

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Turkey’s delicate balancing act [NGW Magazine] - News & Analysis - Natural Gas World

Turkey’s delicate balancing act [NGW Magazine]
Jan 27, 2019 3:00:pm

A weak lira has priced gas out of the power-generation market, so Ankara must watch how it balances domestic support against foreign relations. [NGW Magazine Volume 4, Issue 2]

More:Turkey’s delicate balancing act [NGW Magazine] - News & Analysis - Natural Gas World

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Turkish court releases Kurdish MP on hunger strike | Reuters

Turkish court releases Kurdish MP on hunger strike
Umit Ozdal

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Friday released a Kurdish lawmaker who was jailed last year for criticising Ankara’s military operation in Syria and has been on hunger strike for nearly three months.

More:Turkish court releases Kurdish MP on hunger strike | Reuters

Turkish Markets Offer Selected Opportunities - Barron's

Turkey’s Troubled Economy Still Offers Opportunity

By Craig Mellow Jan.

An existential threat from the president of the U.S. isn’t what it used to be. In a Jan. 14 tweet, Donald Trump offhandedly threatened to “devastate” Turkey’s economy if the NATO ally crossed him in Syria. The iShares MSCI Turkey exchange-traded fund has jumped 14% since then, and the Turkish lira has climbed 3% against the dollar. The good times should keep rolling for a while for bond investors betting on the currency. Turkish equities are trickier, but may offer some select bargains.

More:Turkish Markets Offer Selected Opportunities - Barron's

Friday, January 25, 2019

The new caliph - Opinion - Jerusalem Post

The new caliph

Turkey’s chief ideologue, Ahmet Davutoglu admitted that Turkey’s neo-Ottoman ambitions were inspired by the British Commonwealth.

More:The new caliph - Opinion - Jerusalem Post

Turkey and the West: What to Expect in 2019? - Carnegie Europe - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Turkey and the West: What to Expect in 2019?

Marc Pierini

Beyond Trumpian tweets and Turkish chest-beating reactions, a dispassionate look at the relationship between Turkey and its traditional Western allies reveals that economic, defense, and counterterrorism issues will dominate their mutual agenda in 2019.

More:Turkey and the West: What to Expect in 2019? - Carnegie Europe - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin vow closer co-operation on Syria at Moscow talks - The National

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin vow closer co-operation on Syria at Moscow talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to co-ordinate their actions more closely in Syria.

More:Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin vow closer co-operation on Syria at Moscow talks - The National

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Turkey's Erdogan Lays Out Plans for Syria Security Zone

Turkey's Erdogan Lays Out Plans for Syria Security Zone

January 23, 2019 6:30 PM Dorian Jones

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in his latest effort to build support for a Turkish-controlled military security zone in Syria.

More:Turkey's Erdogan Lays Out Plans for Syria Security Zone

Turkey's ‘Climate of Fear’ for Journalists: Prison, Fines, Firings - The Atlantic

Turkey's ‘Climate of Fear’ for Journalists

With few independent outlets left, more journalists in Turkey now face jail time, fines, or getting fired for doing their job.

More:Turkey's ‘Climate of Fear’ for Journalists: Prison, Fines, Firings - The Atlantic

Feud between Turks and Kurds only adds to Syrian quagmire | TheHill

Feud between Turks and Kurds only adds to Syrian quagmire
By W. Robert Pearson, opinion contributor — 01/23/19 09:30 AM EST

Once again, Turks and Kurds are squaring off to fight. Turks and Kurds have clashed with one another for nearly 1,000 years. The Kurds were in the Middle East first, with roots stretching back millennia. The Turks arrived in historical times and absorbed most Kurds into the Ottoman Empire.

More:Feud between Turks and Kurds only adds to Syrian quagmire | TheHill

The U.S. Decision to Leave Syria Further Erodes Relations With Turkey

The U.S. Decision to Leave Syria Further Erodes Relations With Turkey By Sinan Ciddi

U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan see an opportunity in Syria to please their domestic constituencies, but their actions carry risks. A U.S. withdrawal from Syria will continue to embitter relations between Washington and Ankara over the fate of American-backed Kurds in the north of the war-torn country. Remaining elements of the Islamic State and other extremist groups in Syria could find the space to regroup, while Russia and Iran will consolidate their interests in Syria and the greater Middle East.

More:The U.S. Decision to Leave Syria Further Erodes Relations With Turkey

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Fact check: can the US ‘devastate’ Turkey’s economy? | The Week UK

Fact check: can the US ‘devastate’ Turkey’s economy?
Jan 22, 2019
Donald Trump is threatening the Nato ally with costly reprisals if Kurdish fighters are attacked in Syria

More:Fact check: can the US ‘devastate’ Turkey’s economy? | The Week UK

bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s democratic deconstruction: Not so amusing

Turkey’s democratic deconstruction: Not so amusing

By Akin Nazli in Belgrade January 22, 2019

You may have noticed some very odd Turkish pre-election stories making a big splash in the global news media’s short-attention-span 24-hour news cycle before disappearing as fast as they arrived. The tale of the 165-year-old first-time voter found on the electoral roll perhaps? Or the single apartment apparently home to 1,000 registered voters? All very amusing, but their appearance and rapid disappearance beg two rather important questions.

More:bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s democratic deconstruction: Not so amusing

Turkey’s ambitions in Syria are likely to be frustrated | Financial Times

Turkey’s ambitions in Syria are likely to be frustrated

Ankara’s aim is to crush the Kurds but Russia wants Assad to reassert control

More:Turkey’s ambitions in Syria are likely to be frustrated | Financial Times

Turkish journalist serving life gets another six years in prison: Anadolu | Reuters

Turkish journalist serving life gets another six years in prison: Anadolu

ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish court on Tuesday sentenced a prominent journalist serving a life sentence to almost six additional years in prison for leaking information deemed secret by the government, the state-owned Anadolu news agency said.

More:Turkish journalist serving life gets another six years in prison: Anadolu | Reuters

bne IntelliNews - Erdogan calls on companies to cut profits to help consumers hit by Turkey’s economic dire straits

Erdogan calls on companies to cut profits to help consumers hit by Turkey’s economic dire straits

By bne IntelliNews January 21, 2019 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on January 21 called on companies to cut profits if necessary to help consumers through Turkey’s challenging economic time.

More:bne IntelliNews - Erdogan calls on companies to cut profits to help consumers hit by Turkey’s economic dire straits

Monday, January 21, 2019

Erdogan tells Trump Turkey ready to take over Syria's Manbij

Erdogan tells Trump Turkey ready to take over Syria's Manbij
By Sarah Dadouch
21 January 2019 — 1:37pm

Istanbul: Turkey is ready to take over security in Syria's Manbij, where four US citizens died in an Islamic State-claimed bombing last week, President Tayyip Erdogan told US President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Sunday, the Turkish presidency said.

More:Erdogan tells Trump Turkey ready to take over Syria's Manbij

Istanbul Airport protests: a symbol of discontent for Turkey's labour force?

Istanbul New Airport: a symbol of discontent for Turkey’s labour force?
By Joe Baker

Behind the fanfare over Istanbul’s brand-new airport have been growing concerns about labour rights, as protests over dangerous working conditions came to a head at the end of 2018. What are the workers’ grievances, and what do these protests mean for a country whose labourers are often scared to speak up?

More:Istanbul Airport protests: a symbol of discontent for Turkey's labour force?

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Turkish women adopted #10YearChallenge to tell stories of taking off headscarf | Ahval

Turkish women adopted #10YearChallenge to tell stories of taking off headscarf

Turkish women who stopped wearing the Islamic headscarf joined thousands and adopted widely viral #10YearChallenge to tell their stories, BBC News reported on Sunday.

"People have been sharing photos from 10 years ago and today for #10YearChallenge but for some of the women in Turkey the decision to remove their headscarf was more recent, so they instead used the hashtag the #1yearchallenge," the website said.

More:Turkish women adopted #10YearChallenge to tell stories of taking off headscarf | Ahval

EU court orders Turkey to follow human-rights treaty - WND

EU court orders Turkey to follow human-rights treaty
Islamist nation caught acting on prejudice against Christians

The increasingly authoritarian Turkish regime has been caught acting with “prejudice” against Christians even though it ratified the European Convention on Human Rights, and now a court has ordered the NATO ally to clean up its act.

More:EU court orders Turkey to follow human-rights treaty - WND

Life sentence sought for Turkish employee of US Consulate charged with espionage | The Times of Israel

Life sentence sought for Turkish employee of US Consulate charged with espionage

Ankara accuses Metin Topuz, jailed since 2017, of helping police officers organize an attempted coup in 2013

More:Life sentence sought for Turkish employee of US Consulate charged with espionage | The Times of Israel

Saturday, January 19, 2019

US arming YPG ‘created a nightmare’ for Turkey: Senator - Turkey News

US arming YPG ‘created a nightmare’ for Turkey: Senator
ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

By arming the YPG group in Syria, Washington “created a nightmare for Turkey,” said a senior U.S. senator during a visit to the Turkish capital on Jan. 19

Underlining that the YPG/PYD is “clearly” tied to the PKK - listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union - Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that the U.S. strategy in Syria has the potential to cause harm to Turkey.

More:US arming YPG ‘created a nightmare’ for Turkey: Senator - Turkey News

Friday, January 18, 2019

Turkey seen falling short of growth targets, recession in progress - Nasdaq.com

Turkey seen falling short of growth targets, recession in progress
January 17, 2019, 01:15:00 AM EDT By Reuters

Reuters

By Ezgi Erkoyun

ISTANBUL, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Turkey's economy began contracting in the last quarter and won't grow again until the third quarter of 2019, while growth will miss government forecasts through 2021, a Reuters poll found, underscoring the serious damage caused by a currency crisis.

More:Turkey seen falling short of growth targets, recession in progress - Nasdaq.com

Erdogan Gets Emergency Powers to Use If Turkish Economy at Risk - Bloomberg

Erdogan Gets Emergency Powers Over the Turkish Economy
By Firat Kozok
January 17, 2019, 4:14 AM EST

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was granted emergency powers that give him broad authority to act when Turkey’s financial stability is deemed to be under threat.

More:Erdogan Gets Emergency Powers to Use If Turkish Economy at Risk - Bloomberg

Artists in Turkey: Erdogan′s new targets - Qantara.de

Erdogan′s new targets

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is cracking down on artists, strongly rejecting any criticism, even from those with conservative backing. But what does he hope to gain from the increasingly aggressive tirades? By Aram Ekin Duran

More:Artists in Turkey: Erdogan′s new targets - Qantara.de

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Erdogan: Attack could be to deter US withdrawal - ABC 36 News

Erdogan: Attack could be to deter US withdrawal
By
Justin Roth -
January 16, 2019

BEIRUT (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says that an explosion that killed American service members in Syria may have been an act aimed to deter the United States from withdrawing troops.

More:Erdogan: Attack could be to deter US withdrawal - ABC 36 News

EU takes aim at Turkish steel sector already buckling under Trump tariffs | Reuters

EU takes aim at Turkish steel sector already buckling under Trump tariffs
Maytaal Angel, Ceyda Caglayan

LONDON/ANKARA (Reuters) - The European Commission’s move to extend its steel import restrictions threatens to force Turkish mills, already buckling under the weight of U.S. tariffs, to cut production further or in some cases close down, sources said.

More:EU takes aim at Turkish steel sector already buckling under Trump tariffs | Reuters

Intel: Manbij attack may strengthen Turkey’s hand against Syrian Kurds

Intel: Manbij attack may strengthen Turkey’s hand against Syrian Kurds

Al-Monitor Staff January 16, 2019

The suicide attack that killed several US service members and civilians in Manbij today may strengthen Turkey’s hand against Syrian Kurdish groups that it sees as a threat. Ankara has been arguing the US-backed Kurds are unwilling or unable to maintain stability and security in the areas they control in Syria, and is eager to replace them with its own proxies.

More:Intel: Manbij attack may strengthen Turkey’s hand against Syrian Kurds

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Turkey, US discuss Syria buffer zone as Manbij attack kills American troops

Turkey, US discuss Syria buffer zone as Manbij attack kills American troops

Jasper Mortimer January 16, 2019

Article Summary

Russia's foreign minister calls for Syrian control of areas after US withdrawal; IS suicide bomber kills 16 in Manbij; more worries expressed about election fairness in Turkey.

More:Turkey, US discuss Syria buffer zone as Manbij attack kills American troops

Lira on a Tear as Central Bank Plays It Safe Before March Vote - Bloomberg

Lira on a Tear as Central Bank Plays It Safe Before March Vote
By Cagan Koc
and Constantine Courcoulas
January 16, 2019, 6:01 AM EST Updated on January 16, 2019, 9:38 AM EST

Turkish lira traders have plenty of risks to navigate over the next few months but the prospect of a central bank misstep before elections in March may no longer be one of them.

More:Lira on a Tear as Central Bank Plays It Safe Before March Vote - Bloomberg

Museum Selfie Day marked in Turkey - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Museum Selfie Day marked in Turkey
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-16 22:41:14|Editor: yan

ISTANBUL, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkey on Wednesday marked "Museum Selfie Day" by allowing photo taking in more than 300 museums and ancient sites across the country for the first time.

More:Museum Selfie Day marked in Turkey - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Turkish opposition cries foul as 165-year-old registered to vote in March elections | Ahval

Turkish opposition cries foul as 165-year-old registered to vote in March elections

Over 6,000 people in Turkey over the age of 100 are listed as voters ahead of March local elections, including one 148-year-old, one aged 149, and another aged 165, according to the main opposition party, which has presented a report listing what it called a series of irregularities to the electoral supervisory body, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported .

The secularist main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) applied to the Supreme Election Board (YSK) to extend the period of voter registration due to reports of irregularities across the country. The board declined the request and voter registration for the local elections will be completed on Thursday.

More:Turkish opposition cries foul as 165-year-old registered to vote in March elections | Ahval

Venezuela, Turkey using gold to evade U.S. sanctions | Miami Herald

Venezuela, Turkey using gold to evade U.S. sanctions

By Imdat Oner

January 15, 2019 07:05 PM,

Almost three years ago, Reza Zarrab, an Iranian-Turkish gold trader, was arrested at Miami International Airport by FBI agents. Zarrab was accused of executing “gas-for-gold” transactions with Iran, which helped Tehran circumvent U.S. sanctions intended to halt its nuclear program. He pleaded guilty and decided to cooperate with the U.S.

More:Venezuela, Turkey using gold to evade U.S. sanctions | Miami Herald

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Erdogan wants to revive cannabis production, and Turkish Islamists love it | Middle East Eye

Erdogan wants to revive cannabis production, and Turkish Islamists love it
#InsideTurkey

President hopes reviving the industry will signal high times ahead for Turkey's economy and environment

More:Erdogan wants to revive cannabis production, and Turkish Islamists love it | Middle East Eye

AKP voters increasingly unhappy with Turkish economy | Ahval

AKP voters increasingly unhappy with Turkish economy

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has stayed in power for 17 years by creating one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, but the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is now facing its toughest test yet: economic trouble.

More:AKP voters increasingly unhappy with Turkish economy | Ahval

Kurds in Turkey unite to take aim at Ankara in elections

Kurds in Turkey unite to take aim at Ankara in elections

Fehim Tastekin January 15, 2019

Article Summary

Saying they have taken enough abuse, Kurds in Turkey have formed an alliance to strengthen their standing in upcoming elections.

More:Kurds in Turkey unite to take aim at Ankara in elections

Ankara's east-Euphrates vision more dream than plan

Ankara's east-Euphrates vision more dream than plan

Kadri Gursel January 15, 2019

Article Summary
As the US withdrawal raises the specter of a power vacuum in Syrian territory east of the Euphrates River, Ankara is too anxious about Damascus filling the void to come up with rational solutions.

More:Ankara's east-Euphrates vision more dream than plan

U.S. Allies in Syria Claim 'There Is No Withdrawal' and It's 'Merely a Media Decision' As Donald Trump Talks to Turkey

U.S. Allies in Syria Claim 'There Is No Withdrawal' and It's 'Merely a Media Decision' As Donald Trump Talks to Turkey
By Tom O'Connor On 1/14/19 at 1:38 PM

A representative for the Pentagon's top partner in Syria has denied reports that the United States has begun pulling troops out of the war-torn country as part of President Donald Trump's withdrawal decision.

More:U.S. Allies in Syria Claim 'There Is No Withdrawal' and It's 'Merely a Media Decision' As Donald Trump Talks to Turkey

Monday, January 14, 2019

Trump threat likely to alienate Turkey, weaken U.S. leverage in Syria - Axios

Trump threat likely to alienate Turkey, weaken U.S. leverage in Syria

President Trump redefined his Syria policy in a volley of tweets Sunday, threatening to "devastate Turkey economically" if it attacks Kurds in Syria. At issue is Ankara’s longstanding objection to the U.S. alliance with the Syrian Kurdish forces (YPG), who have proven to be Washington's most reliable and efficient allies in Syria’s northeast in the fight against ISIS.

More:Trump threat likely to alienate Turkey, weaken U.S. leverage in Syria - Axios

Between the Millet System and EU Values: The Sunni Muslim Turkish State and Non-Muslim Minorities | Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies

Between the Millet System and EU Values: The Sunni Muslim Turkish State and Non-Muslim Minorities

Author Özgür Kaymak

The relationship between the state and non-Muslim communities[1] has been a sensitive issue since the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Although the principle of secularism has been stated in the constitution, wherein the state was ostensibly required to distance itself from all religious beliefs equally, Islam had always played an important role in the formation of Turkish identity. The debates with regard to freedom of religion and conscience as well as the rights of religious minorities have become especially salient since the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to power.

More:Between the Millet System and EU Values: The Sunni Muslim Turkish State and Non-Muslim Minorities | Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies

Jihadis rout Ankara's allies, complicating Turkey's Idlib mandate

Jihadis rout Ankara's allies, complicating Turkey's Idlib mandate

Fehim Tastekin January 14, 2019

Article Summary
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham jihadi coalition has overpowered Turkish-backed rebel groups in Syria’s flashpoint province of Idlib, upending the essence of the de-escalation deal developed by Turkey and Russia.

More:Jihadis rout Ankara's allies, complicating Turkey's Idlib mandate

Donald Trump threatens Turkey economically if it attacks Kurdish allies in Syria amid troop withdrawal backlash - CBS News

Pompeo defends Donald Trump's Twitter threat to Turkey over Kurds in Syria

Updated on: January 14, 2019 / 7:00 AM / CBS/AP

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that President Donald Trump's threat to devastate NATO ally Turkey's economy if it attacks U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria underscores America's commitment to its partners.

More:Donald Trump threatens Turkey economically if it attacks Kurdish allies in Syria amid troop withdrawal backlash - CBS News

Turkey says nothing to be gained from economic threats | Euronews

Turkey says nothing to be gained from economic threats

By Reuters• last updated: 14/01/2019 - 11:02

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's foreign minister pushed back against comments from U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, saying nothing could be achieved by threatening Ankara economically and strategic partners should not communicate over social media.

More:Turkey says nothing to be gained from economic threats | Euronews

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Trump threatens to 'devastate' Turkey's economy if it attacks Syria's Kurds | TheHill

Trump threatens to 'devastate' Turkey's economy if it attacks Syria's Kurds
By Brandon Conradis - 01/13/19 07:48 PM EST

President Trump on Sunday threatened to "devastate" Turkey's economy if it were to launch an attack on Kurdish fighters in Syria, as his administration prepares to withdraw troops from the war-torn country.

More:Trump threatens to 'devastate' Turkey's economy if it attacks Syria's Kurds | TheHill

Friday, January 11, 2019

Turkey: Actors and actresses are Erdogan′s new targets | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 11.01.2019

Turkey: Actors and actresses are Erdogan's new targets

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is cracking down on artists, strongly rejecting any criticism, even from those with conservative backing. But what does he hope to gain from the increasingly aggressive tirades?

More:Turkey: Actors and actresses are Erdogan′s new targets | Europe| News and current affairs from around the continent | DW | 11.01.2019

Turkish central bank seen holding rates as inflation retreats

Turkish central bank seen holding rates as inflation retreats

January 11 2019 11:28

Turkey’s central bank is expected to keep its policy rate unchanged at 24% at a rate-setting meeting next week, a Reuters poll showed yesterday, maintaining support for the lira currency as inflation eases. Inflation stood at just above 20% in December, down from a 15-year high of 25.24% in October.

More:Turkish central bank seen holding rates as inflation retreats

Istanbul elections could be cancelled if Yıldırım does not resign - constitutional court official | Ahval

Istanbul elections could be cancelled if Yıldırım does not resign - constitutional court official

The honorary president of Turkey's Supreme Court, Hamdi Yaver Aktan has weighed in on one of biggest controversies of the upcoming local elections to say that Binali Yıldırım must resign as speaker of parliament in order to run as a mayoral candidate, Cumhuriyet reported on Friday.

More:Istanbul elections could be cancelled if Yıldırım does not resign - constitutional court official | Ahval

EU-Turkey migrant deal 'not working properly': Germany's Merkel | Reuters

EU-Turkey migrant deal 'not working properly': Germany's Merkel

ATHENS (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday a deal between the European Union and Turkey to stem massive migrant flows is dysfunctional and criticized Greece’s legal system for underperforming on deportations.

More:EU-Turkey migrant deal 'not working properly': Germany's Merkel | Reuters

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Turkey or the neo-Ottomans?

Turkey or the neo-Ottomans?

M A Niazi January 11, 2019

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Turkey is a reminder that both countries were once close US allies, but are now relatively estranged, with the governments not exactly anti-US, but committed more to their own interests rather than to the USA’s.

More:Turkey or the neo-Ottomans?

Fiasco in Ankara: Turkish-US friction on Syria back to square one

Fiasco in Ankara: Turkish-US friction on Syria back to square one
Cengiz Candar January 10, 2019

Article Summary
US national security adviser John Bolton was snubbed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of the Trump administration's demands that Kurds not be harmed after the United States withdraws most of its troops.

More:Fiasco in Ankara: Turkish-US friction on Syria back to square one

New decree makes structural changes in Turkish presidential system - Turkey News

New decree makes structural changes in Turkish presidential system
ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey on Jan. 10 issued a new presidential decree making changes to the structures of various public institutions.

Under the decree, just published in the Official Gazette, Turkey will establish a number of new directorates under government ministries.

More:New decree makes structural changes in Turkish presidential system - Turkey News

Wednesday, January 09, 2019

Turkish opposition media ridicule pre-election 'bribe'

Turkish opposition media ridicule pre-election 'bribe'
Jasper Mortimer January 9, 2019

Article Summary
With an eye on the March elections, the Turkish government, under the lead of the Justice and Development Party, is providing citizens with relief from credit card debt — a move the opposition deems bribery.

More:Turkish opposition media ridicule pre-election 'bribe'

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

Turkey’s inflation: rate cuts on the agenda again | Ahval

Turkey’s inflation: rate cuts on the agenda again

Many in Turkey began the New Year wishing for a brighter economic future, but it looks as though 2019 will be the same old same old.

December consumer price inflation (CPI) of 20.3 percent was met with virtual jubilation by Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak last week and he triumphantly announced the government’s end of year economic targets had been met. The official central bank inflation goal remains 5 percent and the central bank’s estimate for 2018 inflation at the start of the year was 7.9 percent.

More:Turkey’s inflation: rate cuts on the agenda again | Ahval

Turkish lira slips after Turkey-U.S. meeting on Syria - Nasdaq.com

Turkish lira slips after Turkey-U.S. meeting on Syria
January 08, 2019, 09:14:00 AM EDT By Reuters

Reuters

ISTANBUL, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Turkish lira traded more than 2 percent weaker against the dollar on Tuesday, reflecting investor concern over a possible souring of relations between Ankara and Washington following talks over the U.S. withdrawal from Syria.

More:Turkish lira slips after Turkey-U.S. meeting on Syria - Nasdaq.com

Turkey Snubs US, Offers No Assurances on Syrian Kurds

Turkey Snubs US, Offers No Assurances on Syrian Kurds
January 8, 2019 ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Trying to negotiate the safety of Kurdish allies in northeastern Syria, national security adviser John Bolton was rebuffed by Turkey’s president Tuesday, who said there would be “no concession” in Ankara’s push against “terror groups.”

More:Turkey Snubs US, Offers No Assurances on Syrian Kurds

Monday, January 07, 2019

Istanbul, the flashpoint of Turkey’s crisis and looming elections

Istanbul, the flashpoint of Turkey’s crisis and looming elections

READ IN: Türkçe Mustafa Sonmez January 7, 2019

Article Summary
Turkey’s commercial capital, Istanbul, is in the grips of economic turmoil, which raises the prospect of the city’s local administration changing hands after more than two decades of dominance by political Islam.

More:Istanbul, the flashpoint of Turkey’s crisis and looming elections

US, Turkey set for negotiations on fate of Kurds - ABC News

US, Turkey set for negotiations on fate of Kurds

By zeke miller, associated press

ANKARA, Turkey — Jan 7, 2019, 9:04 AM ET

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is set to press Turkey for assurances that it won't attack the Kurdish fighters in Syria, which he said is now a condition for the withdrawal of American troops from northeastern Syria.

More:US, Turkey set for negotiations on fate of Kurds - ABC News

Sunday, January 06, 2019

Spotlight: Turkey bans free plastic bags as of 2019 - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Spotlight: Turkey bans free plastic bags as of 2019
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-07 04:04:25|Editor: Mu Xuequan

ANKARA, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A most debated regulation divided Turkish society has been put into effect since Jan. 1, 2019 -- ban on free plastic bags as part of the government policy to reduce pollution.

More:Spotlight: Turkey bans free plastic bags as of 2019 - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Bolton says Turkey must not attack Kurdish fighters once U.S. leaves Syria | Reuters

Bolton says Turkey must not attack Kurdish fighters once U.S. leaves Syria
Steve Holland

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - White House national security adviser John Bolton added a new condition on Sunday to the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, saying Turkey must agree to protect the United States’ Kurdish allies.

More:Bolton says Turkey must not attack Kurdish fighters once U.S. leaves Syria | Reuters

bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s inflation falls to 20% as analysts struggle to gauge economic turmoil

Turkey’s inflation falls to 20%. Analysts struggle to gauge economic turmoil.

Turkey’s annual consumer price inflation rate stayed on the decline in December, falling to 20.3% y/y from 21.61% y/y in November, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) announced on January 3.

The further reduction in inflation was anticipated given the impact of tax cuts on consumer goods, voluntary private sector discounts “encouraged” by the government targeting certain items in TUIK’s inflation basket, the partial recovery of the Turkish lira (TRY) and falling oil prices. A Reuters poll had predicted the annual headline figure for the last month of the year would be 20.52%.

More:bne IntelliNews - Turkey’s inflation falls to 20% as analysts struggle to gauge economic turmoil

Turkey’s brain drain to Netherlands doubles in two years - Dutch report | Ahval

Turkey’s brain drain to Netherlands doubles in two years - Dutch report

The number of Turks applying for jobs in the Netherlands has doubled in the past two years, left-wing news site Gazete Duvar reported on Sunday, citing statistics from Holland’s Immigration & Naturalisation Service (IND). A total of 540 university graduate Turks applied for jobs in the Netherlands in 2016, with this number rising to 1020 in the first 11 months of 2018, it said.

More:Turkey’s brain drain to Netherlands doubles in two years - Dutch report | Ahval

India’s Muslims: Rich Hunting Ground for Middle Eastern Rivals - The Globalist

India’s Muslims: Rich Hunting Ground for Middle Eastern Rivals

How Turkey’s President Erdogan is seeking to expand his leadership claim in the Islamic world in India.

More:India’s Muslims: Rich Hunting Ground for Middle Eastern Rivals - The Globalist

Canada accepts more refugee claims from Turkey than any other country in first nine months of 2018 | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

Canada accepts more refugee claims from Turkey than any other country in first nine months of 2018

by Charlie Smith on January 5th, 2019 at 7:35 PM 0

The latest statistics from the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada demonstrate that a lot of Turks want to escape their repressive country and start a new life in Canada.

More:Canada accepts more refugee claims from Turkey than any other country in first nine months of 2018 | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

Saturday, January 05, 2019

Nearly 295,000 Syrians return home from Turkey in 2018 - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Nearly 295,000 Syrians return home from Turkey in 2018
Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-06 06:00:31|Editor: yan

ANKARA, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 295,000 Syrians returned home from Turkey in 2018, Turkish Interior Ministry said Saturday.

More:Nearly 295,000 Syrians return home from Turkey in 2018 - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Turkey Treads A Fine Line In Syria – Analysis – Eurasia Review

Turkey Treads A Fine Line In Syria – Analysis

January 5, 2019 IDSA

By IDSA By Md. Muddassir Quamar*

President Donald Trump’s December 19, 2018 decision to withdraw US troops from Syria received a euphoric response in Turkey. That was not surprising since the US military presence and support for the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing the People’s Protection Unit (YPG) has been a source of friction between Washington and Ankara. A week before the US announcement, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to launch a military operation in northern Syria to decimate the YPG, which Turkey considers a terrorist organization. In fact, on December 17, Erdogan had said that Turkey is ready to launch an operation “at any moment” to take control of Manbij, a city in northern Syria currently under the control of the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). He had also claimed that Trump has given a “positive response” to this Turkish plan.

More:Turkey Treads A Fine Line In Syria – Analysis – Eurasia Review

Friday, January 04, 2019

Turkish army brass at odds over military operation in Syria

Turkish army brass at odds over military operation in Syria
READ IN: Türkçe
Fehim Tastekin January 4, 2019

Article Summary
The Turkish government’s removal of two key commanders from active duty has revealed the discord in the Turkish military over the planned military operation east of the Euphrates River.

More:Turkish army brass at odds over military operation in Syria

Thursday, January 03, 2019

Lawsuit over Washington violence looms over US-Turkey relations

Lawsuit over Washington violence looms over US-Turkey relations
Amberin Zaman January 3, 2019

Article Summary
Kurdish protesters who were pummeled by President Erdogan’s security detail last year are seeking millions in damages in US federal court.

More:Lawsuit over Washington violence looms over US-Turkey relations

Erdogan Invokes Ottoman Forebear in New Pledge for Syria Victory - Bloomberg

Erdogan Invokes Ottoman Forebear in New Pledge for Syria Victory
By Selcan Hacaoglu
January 2, 2019, 1:33 AM PST Updated on January 2, 2019, 3:17 AM PST

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is invoking a volatile burial site to highlight the military buildup along the border with Syria where he says Turkey’s enemies will soon be crushed.

More:Erdogan Invokes Ottoman Forebear in New Pledge for Syria Victory - Bloomberg

Turkish lira: Turkish lira in deep trouble after another crash - The Economic Times

Turkish lira in deep trouble after another crash
REUTERS|
Jan 03, 2019, 03.00 PM IST

Few traders will be eager to take such risk again. Even fewer, if any, are now well hedged for a resumption of the lira's downtrend.
The apparent 17 per cent dive for Turkey's lira has wiped out returns for those who bought into a tempting carry trade and cranked up downside risks for the currency.

More:Turkish lira: Turkish lira in deep trouble after another crash - The Economic Times

Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent - The New York Times

Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent

By Carlotta Gall

Jan. 2, 2019

ISTANBUL — For 17 years, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won elections by offering voters a vision of restoring the glories of Turkey’s Ottoman past. He extended his country’s influence with increased trade and military deployments, and he raised living standards with years of unbroken economic growth.

More:Spurning Erdogan’s Vision, Turks Leave in Droves, Draining Money and Talent - The New York Times

Turkey: 13 parties to run in upcoming local polls

Turkey: 13 parties to run in upcoming local polls Supreme Election Council says

ANKARA A total of 13 political parties will compete in Turkey’s forthcoming local elections scheduled for March 31, the country’s election authority announced on Wednesday. In a statement, the Supreme Election Council said 13 parties could meet the necessary criteria to run on the ballot. Turkish local polls are held every five years to elect mayors of 30 metropolitan municipalities and 51 provincial municipalities. Ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are expected to support each other’s candidates in some districts and provinces, while the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Good (IYI) Party are expected to make same arrangement.

More:Turkey: 13 parties to run in upcoming local polls

Young backers of Turkey’s ruling party the most effective on social media | Ahval

Young backers of Turkey’s ruling party the most effective on social media

As Turkey counts down to March 31st local elections, research into the use of social media by young people shows supporters of the Islamist ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are more effective than those of other parties in disseminating political messaging.

More:Young backers of Turkey’s ruling party the most effective on social media | Ahval

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

US team to visit Ankara for FETÖ probe - Turkey News

US team to visit Ankara for FETÖ probe
ANKARA

A U.S. delegation will be visiting Ankara to hold talks with Turkish authorities on new evidence that they submitted to Washington about the FETÖ, the group that is widely believed to have orchestrated the failed coup attempt of 2016 in Turkey.

More:US team to visit Ankara for FETÖ probe - Turkey News

The relationship of trust between Trump and Erdogan and the optimism in Ankara

The relationship of trust between Trump and Erdogan and the optimism in Ankara

By Manolis Kostidis / Published on: 02-01-2019, 07:39

The relationship of trust between Trump and Erdogan and the optimism in Ankara Turkey will monitor developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as the plans of Greece to expand its territorial waters to 12 miles. Recep Tayyip Erdogan enters 2019 with an elevated political morale, as the re-establishment of relations with the United States and the withdrawal of US forces from Syria make his staff optimistic for the coming period.

More:The relationship of trust between Trump and Erdogan and the optimism in Ankara

Tuesday, January 01, 2019

Less plastic, more internet awaits Turkish citizens in 2019 - Daily Sabah

Less plastic, more internet awaits Turkish citizens in 2019
DAILY SABAH
ISTANBUL
Published 13 hours ago

Turkey will welcome the new year with a string of changes for the daily lives of millions. Starting on Jan. 1, plastic bags at grocery store checkouts and other businesses will be mandated to be sold for TL 0.25 ($4 cents) under new regulations.

More:Less plastic, more internet awaits Turkish citizens in 2019 - Daily Sabah