Neither Kadri Gürsel nor his freedom can be compared to a lost and found donkey, but our situation is very much like a Nasreddin Hodja joke.
The countdown has started and the clock is ticking very loudly to warn the Iraqi Kurds that their referendum vote for independence, scheduled to take place on Sept. 25, is loaded with a potential disaster not only for northern Iraq but a bigger geography spanning Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Iran and probably beyond.
Trying to woo nationalists, fascists, religious fanatics and such segments of the Greek Cypriot society that delivered oaths on hand grenades to “drink Turkish Cypriot society,” repeating at every opportunity that the “majority cannot succumb to the minority,” and at the same time trying to fool Turks with some empty “we want federation” rhetoric must be a very tiring occupation.
What has changed since the inconclusive termination of the Cyprus talks at Crans-Montana? Nothing. Is there hope for the success of a new round of Cyprus talks should the sides decide to rehash the process?
How could such a thing happen?
Turkey does not deserve such treatment, but even in such a horrible situation there is an unbelievable sense of stubbornness.
For the first time since the July 15, 2016, failed coup, I spent a full nine-day cut off from what’s been going on in Turkey.
Whatever Turkey and Turkish Cypriots say, the international community perceives the Turkish Cypriot state as a subsidiary of Turkey rather than a full-fledged entity with some degree of sovereignty.
The head of National Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli declared Thursday that Iraqi Kurds holding an independence referendum would be “casus belli,” meaning, a reason for war.
