23 September 2011
by Hugh Pope
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Despite eastern Mediterranean states’ new readiness to talk and act tough, navies of the region are unlikely to clash any time soon over oil platforms, aid flotillas, maritime boundaries or exclusive economic zones. But newly assertive Turkey, Israel and Cyprus … Continue reading
9 June 2011
by Hugh Pope
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New cities, high-speed trains, suspension bridges, airports, tax holidays, a “crazy” grand canal parallel to the Bosporus waterway, iPads for all – the campaign trail ahead of Turkey’s 12 June parliamentary elections is strewn with promises of great times coming. … Continue reading
15 April 2010
by Crisis Group
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With Turkish Cypriot leadership elections on Sunday, the future of the Cypriot negotiations are under question. It is clear from the candidates’ platforms that a victory for incumbent Mehmet Ali Talat will make it easier and quicker to reach a … Continue reading
5 January 2010
by Hugh Pope
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Turkey’s friends in Europe have won an important argument. The governments of France and Germany have stopped advocating a “privileged partnership” to replace the long-promised goal of EU membership for Turkey.The concept was always a short-term pandering to Europeans’ fears … Continue reading
23 June 2009
by Hugh Pope
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Right-wingers won big in the European elections this month, and one of their rallying cries has been that the EU should renege on its promise of an eventual place for Turkey in the European Union. In its place, they are … Continue reading
26 March 2009
by Sabine Freizer
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Towns and cities across Turkey are festooned with political party paraphernalia as the country’s main political parties go all out in the final days of the 29 March municipal elections campaign. To an outsider the intensity of party leader involvement, … Continue reading
23 February 2009
by Hugh Pope
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Turkey has been converging formally with the European Union and its predecessors since it signed an association agreement in 1963, the same year the dispute between Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Turkey and Greece over Cyprus became both a cause and … Continue reading