The U.S.’s decision last month to suspend processing visa applications for Turkish citizens at its diplomatic and consular missions in Turkey was a humiliating move, not least because Washington is supposed to be Ankara’s “ally and strategic partner.”
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus will go to polls on Jan. 7, 2018 to elect members of the 50-seat unicameral Republican Assembly.
It was a shock to see businessman-activist Osman Kavala detained on Oct. 18.
There appears to be some confusion regarding recent secessionist moves, with lots of action but little results. But do Catalonia, northern Iraq and Turkish Cyprus share any points in common?
On the 94th anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic, including the ruling elites, the whole country contested to deliver the most attractive message of the day. Who was sincere, who was not?
Two arrows and a bow in between. That is its symbol. A sun on a blue background with eight glaring lines. That is its emblem. Its name is the “İyi” (Good) Party. It is the new Turkish party people have been talking about for so long, on whether it will instill fresh hope for Turkey’s depressive political climate once it’s established.
The spokesman of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has declared on TV that his party was committed to democracy and that he firmly believed those coming to public office with the vote of the nation should also leave with the vote of the nation. Can anyone object to that? Obviously not.
Like a broken watch showing the correct hour at least twice a day, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı was perfectly right in his speech before hundreds of young university students and a select group of invitees to the economy and politics seminar held last week at the “Middle East Technical University-Cyprus.”
The ruler of the country declared: “Irrespective of whether they want it or do not want it, we will do it. It is going to happen.”
