Latest News from Turkey

OK, Turkey is a majoritarian democracy, not a dictatorship

I have no idea how many justice ministers in the democratically civilized world have to make speeches arguing that their country is not a dictatorship. But Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozda? has recently felt compelled to remind the world of just that. Bozda?

Who will write the democratic constitution?

We are fully occupied with the declaration of the academics for a whole week. If you take into consideration what top officials are saying, then this is Turkey's number one issue for the moment.

Government on the right path but needs help

Since the first day the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, it has been well aware that it cannot enhance welfare in this country without advancing its scientific and technological infrastructure. In this regard, it exerts serious efforts but has not yet received the desired productivity from these efforts.

'Good political relations may effect economic cooperation,' Iranian envoy says

Iran's ambassador to Turkey, Ali Reza Bikdeli, has given his assessment on both the Iranian economy and the future of Turkey-Iran cooperation in the fields of economy, energy and trade after the removal of U.N.-led sanctions on the country, in an interview with the Hürriyet Daily News.

Back to security politics in the Kurdish issue

The Turkish government's latest move to relocate the administrative centers of two border provinces could be seen as a fresh indication that it plans to push ahead with security-focused policies to deal with the chronic Kurdish problem.

Germany: Turkey righteous in fight against PKK, but solution is on political ground

German Ambassador to Turkey Martin Erdmann has voiced Berlin's unconditional support to Ankara's ongoing fight against the outlawed Kurdistan workers' Party (PKK), while underlining that "a final and permanent solution" to the Kurdish issue could only be found on political grounds.

Main opposition angered over Egypt policy

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu criticized the government's foreign policy on Egypt, referring to state news reports calling Egypt's new parliament "illicit."

Jail sentence for Turkish youth 'disproportionate,' Euro court says

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has found that a jail sentence given to a 15-year-old boy for attending a demonstration in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r in 2008 was disproportionate.

Syrian migrants' love story breaks on Turkey's Aegean shore

A vivid diary written by a young Syrian girl has added to the heart-wrenching stories of the ongoing refugee tragedy, found after washing up on Turkey's Aegean shore following the deadly capsizing of another migrant boat bound for Europe.

ECHR fines Turkey for 2007 raid of Nokta magazine

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled for Turkey to be fined over a police raid on the office building of Nokta magazine upon a military court ruling in 2007, stating that the raid constituted a violation of human rights.

EU defends labelling goods made in Israeli settlements

The European Union reinforced on Jan. 18 its position that products made in Israeli settlements must be clearly labelled in Europe, despite growing tensions with Israel over the issue, but stressed that the bloc opposes any boycott of the Jewish state.