YUSUF KANLI

Happy Bayram YUSUF KANLI

Happy Bayram

If you are living in Istanbul, Ankara, or in any big cities in Turkey, look around very carefully this morning. Cities are all “evacuated.” Well no, at least the government says the country is under an economic-financial war declared on itself by the United States, but the situation you will observe is a phenomenon, which is repeated once or twice every year, depending on climatic and calendar issues.

August 20 2018
Offended with a mountain YUSUF KANLI

Offended with a mountain

The United States clamped on a web of punitive measures on trade with Turkey, particularly on iron and steel imports. Turkey retaliated, declaring boycott on electronic imports from the U.S. and a sharp increase of up to 200 percent in tariffs and taxes for a variety of imports, headed by cars. Both countries, of course, have alternatives to evade measures taken by the other. Still, such things happening between allies demonstrate a widening confidence crisis between the two allies, incompatible with the notion of what an alliance should be.

August 15 2018
An economic war… YUSUF KANLI

An economic war…

It is obvious that there is an economic and financial war declared on Turkey. For Turkey, the aim of the war declared on her is clear: To punish her, make her get to her knees, and compel her to become an “obedient” or “subservient” state.

August 13 2018
Remembering Erenköy YUSUF KANLI

Remembering Erenköy

No one, including Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, should live in history. Memoirs of past traumas, fears, and atrocities should not be allowed to hold the future of a people hostage. Yet, experiences of yesterday must be remembered if there is a sincere wish to build a better, more secure and probably tranquil tomorrow.

August 08 2018
New York diplomacy on Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

New York diplomacy on Cyprus

Apart from intercommunal talks, Greek Cypriot leaders, particularly the current one — Nikos Anastasiades — have been categorically against coming together with the Turkish Cypriot leader on grounds that such developments might “elevate the status” of the Turkish Cypriot state.

August 06 2018
No price hikes, only price adjustments YUSUF KANLI

No price hikes, only price adjustments

During the 1980s there was a short, fat, lovely prime minister. He was an economist with a background in the State Planning Organization, which is now the Development Ministry...

August 01 2018
Cold War politics back again YUSUF KANLI

Cold War politics back again?

It might be assumed that the exchange of prisoners, spies, important sportspeople, political or business personalities can only be seen in films.

July 30 2018
Time for fresh ideas for Cyprus YUSUF KANLI

Time for fresh ideas for Cyprus

A clear message was delivered to Jane Holl Lute, the special Cyprus adviser to the United Nations’ secretary-general, in Turkish Cyprus. Unlike the Greek Cypriot side’s obscure “we are ready to resume wherever we left in Crans Montana last year” statement, Lute was told at the Turkish Cypriot presidential office that the resumption of the Cyprus process required a major mentality transformation on the Greek Cypriot side.

July 25 2018
Lute’s mission on Cyprus is doomed to fail YUSUF KANLI

Lute’s mission on Cyprus is doomed to fail

The provisional special Cyprus advisor of the United Nations Secretary-General, Jane Holl Lute, will be in Cyprus this week. During her visit to the island, Lute is scheduled to meet separately with the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders but she is not scheduled to come together with the two leaders at an official or non-official event or even a social event.

July 23 2018