YUSUF KANLI

Kyprianou to Tatar YUSUF KANLI

Kyprianou to Tatar

What will be the impacts of Ersin Tatar becoming the leader of the Turkish Cypriot National Unity Party (UBP) was in the back of my head when I was at an Ankara conference listening to Andros Kyprianou, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL).

November 26 2018
Respecting the law might be painful YUSUF KANLI

Respecting the law might be painful

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Turkey to release Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) leader Selahattin Demirtaş from prison. The European court has said the detention of Demirtaş had the “ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting the freedom of political debate.”

November 21 2018
Since Kyprianou is coming to town YUSUF KANLI

Since Kyprianou is coming to town

It will not be the first time a Greek Cypriot political leader will be visiting Turkey. From Nikos Anastasiades himself to others, visiting Istanbul is no big deal. Greek Cypriots, at various levels, sometimes make public or discreet trips to Ankara. Anastasiades made one such trip—when he was an opposition leader—and met with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) executives, including then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Andros Kyprianou, the leader of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), was in Ankara a few years ago as well.

November 20 2018
Long live Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

Long live Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is currently marking its 35th anniversary since its proclamation. It is a very strange republic because it is perhaps the only state established with the declared aim and intention of constituting the Turkish Cypriot leg of a resolution of the Cyprus problem in a two-state federation, confederation or whatever.

November 14 2018
Who is a fool YUSUF KANLI

Who is a fool?

I have a friend who often says, “The person who brands everyone critical of him as a fool is a fool himself.”

November 12 2018
The demise of Anka YUSUF KANLI

The demise of Anka

It is difficult to imagine the great difficulties Veli Özdemir and Nuri Sefa Erdem endured to keep the Anka News Agency, one of the last bastions of free and independent news, alive. This week, with a very short notice to its remaining few subscribers and in a press statement, it was announced that the 46-year-old journey of Anka has come to an end.

November 07 2018
An exciting period ahead YUSUF KANLI

An exciting period ahead

Was it surprising to see all of a sudden surge of the name of Melih Gökçek, the former Ankara mayor forced to resign by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) months before the June presidential and parliamentary elections? As elections draw closer and as long as parties do not complete their candidate lists, it is highly probable that such suprises will become routine.

November 05 2018
Reshaping politics in Turkish Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

Reshaping politics in Turkish Cyprus

Politics is reshaping in Northern Cyprus. After last weekend’s inconclusive first round in the contest for the leadership of the main opposition National Unity Party (UBP), eyes were on Saturday’s second round of voting. After the vote, however, chair Hüseyin Özgürgün withdrew his candidacy, leaving former Finance Minister Ersin Tatar alone in the race. Thus, on Saturday morning, the convention of the UBP will convene for the second round of voting technically, but instead of the vote, as Tatar is left as the sole eligible candidate, he will be announced as the winner.

October 31 2018
Ain’t falling apart YUSUF KANLI

Ain’t falling apart

Like in most other countries, conservatism is on the rise in Turkey. However, despite intense efforts by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) over the past 16 years, the increase is not in the religious-conservative segment. On the contrary, probably because of the sui generis conditions in Turkey, it is the “nationalist but secular” conservative group that has been on the rise in this land for a long time.

October 24 2018