Journalist-Writer
Turkey’s six opposition party leaders sign a draft constitution that their coalition agreed upon after a months collaboration with a public event titled “For Tomorrow’s Turkey,” on February 28. The draft constitution grounds the coalition’s proposition to change current Presidential Government System, which came to an effect with 2017 referendum and transitioning into “Strengthened Parliamentary
February 28, 2022, marks a critical turning point for Turkey in domestic and foreign policy. Undoubtedly, the most critical development in foreign policy is the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) government’s decision to implement the 1936 Montreux Straits Convention in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This decision, which will restrict the passage
A high-rank Turkish official said that Ankara “has not yet decided how to implement the Montreux convention”. Kyiv has been asking Ankara for some time to stop Russian warships from entering the Black Sea from the Mediterranean by implementing the Montreux Convention of 1936 about the maritime regime. In a Tweet on Feb 26 afternoon
Russia officially entered Ukraine. Conflicts began. The airports of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and its important city, Kharkiv, have been rendered inoperable. News followed one another, some of which denied later about the parachute landing of the Russian Spetsnaz troops to Kharkiv, the landing of Russian tanks in the port of Odessa in the Black
Ukraine crisis challenged Turkey-Russia relations in another dimension where the political and defense aspects, as in the case of the S-400 missiles, follow the economic aspect, which is more likely to have more profound effect on Turkish public. In this rough patch, natural gas, tourism, agriculture and contracting services came to a fore in terms
Shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of breakaway states of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine in February 21, Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Turkey would not recognize the decision. Stating that the recognition was a “clear violation of Ukraine’s political unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Ministry added that “The
Turkey’s Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca announced that he will make important statements next week, including when the face covering requirement will be lifted. He predicted that the Covid-19 epidemic, which reached its peak last week, would decline in 2-3 weeks. The Minister also announced that 258 people died on February 17, as he said
Stars are falling once the glitter wears off. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairman and former Prime Minister Binali Yıldırm was giving an exclusive interview to CNN Türk TV host Ahmet Hakan last night on February 16, inevitably answering questions concerning electricity price hikes which caused a nation-wide outcry. Turkey’s political arena
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s reconciliation visit to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coincided with Valentine’s Day, February 14. While Erdogan was in the UAE, two countries signed 13 cooperation agreements. Erdogan and bin Zayed seemed to reconcile the past nine years of fighting and accusations. Among the agreements was
Turkey’s six opposition party leaders held a critical meeting on February 12 announcing their collaboration against President Tayyip Erdoğan’s Presidential System, indicating a formation of an unprecedented opposition block. In the 2019 local elections, many metropolitan municipalities, including Istanbul and Ankara, were taken from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) governance. That victory paved