YUSUF KANLI

A rare political debate YUSUF KANLI

A rare political debate

It was a great evening because on my flight from northern Cyprus to Ankara, I managed to watch a portion of the first-ever debate in the last 17 years between two senior politicians before a key election. Examining the recorded debate, it was easy to conclude that such events can easily be organized in Turkey if there is political will and courageous-enough politicians to face their adversaries on equal footing in front of cameras.

June 17 2019
War of attrition can produce no winners YUSUF KANLI

War of attrition can produce no winners

Under the present-day conditions in Turkey, it might appear “politically correct” to assume xenophobia, Islamophobia, Turkophobia and other such forms of racism are confined to the Western world or are peculiar to “rich” and “Christian” societies. Such assumptions are not just superficial exaggeration, but also undermine the grave dangers this society can no longer ignore.

June 12 2019
Expansionist designs or legitimate rights YUSUF KANLI

Expansionist designs or legitimate rights?

The Greek propaganda machine was quick in trying to portray as “unimpressive” a not-so-accustomed Turkish presentation in Ankara, and later in Brussels, on Turkey’s legitimate and inalienable rights in the eastern Mediterranean. It was claimed that diplomats from Turkey’s European allies and other countries, particularly the Israelis and the Egyptians, were not impressed with Turkish briefings. Kathimerini newspaper underlined that a Greek diplomat was among the diplomatic guests of the Ankara briefing and reported that “sources” told it that diplomats attending that meeting met with skepticism the presentation made by Çağatay Erciyes, the director general for bilateral political and maritime, aviation and border affairs.

May 29 2019
What has happened in Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

What has happened in Cyprus?

May 26 was an exceptional election day on Cyprus. For the first time a Turkish Cypriot was running on the candidates list of a Greek Cypriot political party. Would he be elected? What would his election mean?

May 27 2019
The new North Cyprus coalition YUSUF KANLI

The new North Cyprus coalition

The National Unity Party (UBP) and the People’s Party (HP) of North Cyprus inked May 22 a coalition protocol and established the new government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. While Ersin Tatar, the UBP leader, became the prime minister, the HP leader and incumbent Kudret Özersay not only maintained his foreign minister title but also added a “deputy prime minister” to it. Sunat Atun, who was expected to become the finance and treasury minister, was left out of the cabinet, signifying intense efforts on every name while the list was being drafted over the past week.

May 22 2019
A new era in northern Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

A new era in northern Cyprus

There is total confusion. The four-party coalition government collapsed. Despite claims that Ankara concocted a two-way coalition government of the National Unity Party (UBP) and People’s Party (HP) after many rounds of talks between leaders of the two parties, a deal is not yet completed. Still, the general anticipation is that if not today, tomorrow a new government will be established in northern Cyprus.

May 20 2019
Independence is ‘Turkey’s character’ YUSUF KANLI

Independence is ‘Turkey’s character’

“Starting like a German and finishing like a Turk” is a rather famous saying. Why? Is it not obvious? Obviously, democracy is not a game and the Turkish republican history testifies to the very same reality that unfortunately we could not play well in this game. Did we start like a Turk? Indeed. It was a challenging move to launch a war of liberation without sufficient arms and a proper army, insufficient resources and a death warrant by the imperial palace under occupation against the leader of the nationalist elements.

May 15 2019
Turkey’s rights in Med Sea cannot be circumvented YUSUF KANLI

Turkey’s rights in Med Sea cannot be circumvented

The United States, European Union, Russia and, of course, Egypt have all criticized Turkey for moving to drill for oil and gas off the island of Cyprus, an area it considers part of its territorial shelf. There are even attempts by Greek Cypriot leaders to get the EU and the United States to impose sanctions on Ankara for what they have branded as a “second occupation” of Greek territory by Turkey. As if Cyprus talks were not deadlocked and there was no hope of a resumption anytime soon, the Greek Cypriot National Council endorsed a plea by President Nikos Anastasiades that as long as Turkey’s ships stay in “Cyprus exclusive economic zone” there would be no Cyprus talks.

May 13 2019
Istanbul vote and beyond… YUSUF KANLI

Istanbul vote and beyond…

Irrespective from which perspective one might look at it no one can say the decision of the Supreme Electoral Board to repeat only the metropolitan mayoral election in Istanbul is a non-political decision.

May 08 2019