On October 30th, the European Commission published its annual report assessing the candidate countries’ progress over the last year. Türkiye is still among them. At the very beginning of the report, it is stated that Türkiye is a candidate for membership. However, Türkiye is not seen as such. Every time Commission President Ursula von der
Greek Cypriot Nikos Christodoulides’ recent meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House marks a historic turning point in (Greek) Cyprus-U.S. relations. The Biden administration’s view of the Greek-Cypriot administered Cyprus as a strategic partner, coupled with the possibility of designating it as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA), positions Cyprus as an essential
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) mayor of Istanbul’s Esenyurt district, Prof. Ahmet Özer, was arrested on terrorism charges and removed from his position, sparking protests in Istanbul. Opposition parties and supporters gathered in Esenyurt on Oct. 31 to protest what CHP leader Özgür Özel called a “coup” against democracy. The situation became tense when
As Türkiye celebrates the 101’st anniversary of its Republic, the definition of a “democratic, social state based on rule of law,” enshrined in the first three articles of the Constitution, remains fundamental to its founding principles. These three articles form the cornerstone of the constitutional order and are safeguarded against any proposal for change. However,
Terrorism is one of the most sensitive issues facing the country, yet here we are again, shaken by another absurd proposal. To think that the head of a terrorist organization, sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, could have a platform in Parliament—a notion so outlandish, it serves only to divert public focus. Those proposing this may
Despite the considerable excitement surrounding Turkey’s potential BRICS membership, the outcome has yielded little of substance. Alongside Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, Turkey has been designated merely as a “partner” within BRICS. The anticipated full membership, which sparked debates about a possible shift away from the West,
A deadly attack struck one of Türkiye’s critical defense facilities, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ/TAI), in Ankara’s Kahramankazan district on October 23, leaving 5 dead, 22 wounded. An explosion reported at approximately 15:30 local time at TAI in Ankara’s Kahramanmaraş district, during a busy shift change at the facility’s main gate where employee shuttle busses were
Açık Radyo has held an important place in Türkiye’s intellectual and cultural life for 30 years. For the past three years, I have been part of this big family through my program, “Anthropocene Conversations.” Being one of over 1300 broadcasters and preparing one of the approximately 1200 archived programs was a great honor for me.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Türkiye on October 19 for a one-day working visit to meet with President Tayyip Erdoğan. Despite all the ups and downs, among the G7 countries, Germany has the most high-level contact with Turkey. They had met just a month ago at the Turkish House within the framework of the
Geopolitical developments in the Eastern Mediterranean have given a new impetus to the search for a solution to the Cyprus problem, while increasing the challenges facing the process. The informal 2+1 summit held in New York on October 15th stands out as a de facto sign of the revival of the search for a solution,