Finally an official EU center in Istanbul, Fitch increases Turkey’s ratings, Dutch MPs cancel trip

The new EU Center in Beşiktaş. DHA photo.
The EU Center will be jointly facilitated by the Turkish Ministry of State’s EU General Secretariat and the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s EU Affairs Department. VIA

FT.com | Brussels Blog | EU leaders face make-or-break summit decision on Turkey

Turkey and the EU: hurtful uncertainty | Şevket Pamuk | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Istanbul Metro Station, Taksim: Turkish Conquest of Constantinople. Photo by Jenny White

(click here for the full NY Times article). FOUND IN: Ottomania: The Empire Strikes Back
Dutch MPs cancel trip to Turkey | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Disappointment in Turkey over cancelled trip

Turkish MPs are disappointed the Dutch parliament has cancelled a fact-finding mission about the country’s wishes to join the European Union, the NRC reports on Thursday.

Wilders and Turkey’s anti-democratization camp

by KLAUS JURGENS

Foresight analysis measures the potential impacts of foreign and domestic policy actions. For the purpose of writing this column I have chosen a number of Dutch and Turkish actors as part of a simulation exercise, and without meaning it to be derogatory in any way, have put them into a grid system of four adjacent boxes.

BB+ for Turkey

from Mavi Boncuk by M.A.M

ASSETS
* Thanks to economic growth and tight fiscal policy, since the 2001 financial crisis, public sector debt has come down to manageable levels..
* Reforms and restructuring have strengthened the banking sector.
* Economic growth rests on more solid foundations, driven by a dynamic private sector, productivity gains, and higher value-added production.
* The prospect of economic convergence with the European Union, demographic dynamism, and the country’s pivotal regional position tend to enhance the Turkish market’s attractiveness.
WEAKNESSES
* With its extensive external financing needs, the highest of all emerging countries, Turkey remains very dependent on capital markets.
* The sharp rise of foreign currency debt in the private sector has increased its exposure to exchange rate risk.
* The antagonism between the government and militant Kemalists remains a recurring source of instability.

Here Comes the Pain- Part II. Former military chiefs are questioned Today

Oh God, even an ordinary sergeant feels and acts like a God in the barracks and now I wonder what these Chiefs feel. Falling from heaven? While Western accomplices like Gareth Jenkins (a great critique of Mr. Jenkins’ report –Between Fact And Fantasy:- that questions the Ergenekon Trial can be found here in Turkish) works hard to spread pro-Ergenekon viewpoints abroad, judiciary process continues and today we reach another top point:

Oramiral Özden Örnek	Orgeneral Aytaç Yalman	Orgeneral İbrahim Fırtına

Questioning of former military chiefs in Ergenekon trial begins

Hurriyet Daily News
The accusation said no hard evidence has been found to directly link the top commanders to the Ergenekon gang, but the coup journals show that the

Turkey braces for commander’s testimony in plot probe (AlertNet)

Source: Reuters By Thomas Grove ISTANBUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Three retired military commanders were expected to testify this weekend at an in-camera investigation into a plot to overthrow Turkey’s Islamist-inspired

there is too much pain for the Ergenekon gang. Arbitrarily I named part I here:) A huge roundup follows:

As “Cagers” caged…

A new leaked document claims that “Operation Cage” by the Ergenekon gang planned assassinations on non-Muslim Turkish citizens to provoke and contain AKP rule…

Ministry announces number of people tapped
Hurriyet Daily News- The ministry had earlier said that within the last five years, 69 judicial officers were tapped – 56 of them related to the Ergenekon case

Third letter from military source raises tensions in Turkey (SETimes.com)

Turkey probes fresh allegations of anti-govt plot
Reuters
They say these conspirators belong to a shadowy, nationalist group dubbed the “Ergenekon” network. A judge suspended until Monday a hearing in the

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of CHP backed down and gave support to Onur Öylem who had explicity supported the Dersim Massacre of Alevite citizens. Two those who claim him to be the “Gandhi of Turkey”: Gandhi my ass.

A documentary on Dersim Massacre (In Turkish)

In order to create a Turkish nation from above, Turkish nationalists waged a campaign against non-Turkish and non-Muslim elements of the empire.The First World War served as an excuse for the Young Turks, then the Turkish goverment, to exterminate Armenians. It was a deliberate and sustain war, in the course of which hundreds of thousands Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks had been ruthlessly killed or forced into exile.The collapse of the Ottomans had left a power vacuum, filled by another section of the Turkish nationalists, called Kemalists at a later time.In 1937-38, i.e., at a time when world attention was focused on the Second World War, the Turkish nationalists commited another genocide. This time the victims were Dersimis, who are also known as Kızılbash or Alevis. Approximately 40.000-70.000 of them were killed and thousands were taken into exile. The Dersim Genocide of 1937-1938 was on one hand a continuation of the Kızılbash extermination of the Ottoman times and also an extermination of an ethnically distinct and separate people from Turks.

Step by step, Kurdish initiative continues….

We were expecting more fist-fighting in the parliament meeting on Friday but relatively civilized quarrels dominated Friday’s meeting. Main opposition CHP is gone all crazy- literally indeed- and their reaction is ridiculous and beyond reason. Their childlike reaction and nearly criminal discourse (one higher official of CHP explicity stated that the best solution is what the State did during Dersim Rebellion, that is outright massacre…) have to be contained. I believe that AKP, DTP and a few liberals with possible indirect support from MHP can further the Initiative. Yes, MHP, nationalist party, does in fact acted quite civilized yesterday and despite their harsh criticism on the Kurdish Initiative their love of and support for the State may turn out to be a positive sign in this case. Because they wery well realized that this initiative may help unite the nation again. Armed suppression did not work as the the three decades had demonstrated…

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal addresses members of parliament as Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (L) and his Education Minister Nimet Cubukcu listen in the background during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, November 13, 2009. Turkey’s parliament is set to discuss on Friday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict, moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions.REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkey unveils reforms for Kurds

from BBC News

The Turkish government announces plans to expand the rights of Kurds, who for years have alleged discrimination.

 

A full list of reforms in Turkish here.

Turkish opposition is a major obstacle for further democratization

Yesterday, main opposition MEPs made a scene in the Parliament, of course supported by MHP second biggest opposition party which led to scuffles while debates on the Kurdish Initiative continued. It is unfortunate that these two opposition parties can and may actually stop the process….

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MPs hold banners during a debate at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara November 10, 2009. Turkey’s parliament is set to discuss on Tuesday reforms designed to boost the rights of the country’s Kurdish minority and end a 25-year separatist conflict — moves seen boosting its European Union membership ambitions. Banners are all about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey from 1923 and founder of the modern secular state, who died on November 10, 1938 when he was 57.REUTERS/Umit Bektas

A list of “politically suspicious” websites in Turkey

Several dailies and websites quoted this list yesterday. I am not sure if this document really belongs (can be verified  like some previous documents) to some military officials and thus leaked.  I use it as a collection of politically oriented websites from a diverse set of positions…

VIA

“The people of the republic, the army of the republic!

Honestly speaking, I have a date this evening which is more exciting than any news. But as a self-discipline man, I neglect my blog and and readers and here will offer you another roundup on Turkish politics, with a particular interest in anniversary celebrations and Ergenekon case… There are also some links to good articles… Talk to you soon:)

Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug (L) are accompanied by military officials as they attend an official ceremony to mark the 86th anniversary of Republic Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of secular Turkey, in Ankara October 29, 2009. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

with camera, without camera

So some ice-breaking manouevres happen between PM Erdoğan and main opposition leader Baykal.  Mr. Baykal plays the capricious partner. They have to meet and talk about reforms but this could not be done because of Baykal’s boycott. So we hear Erdoğan sends a gently written letter and Baykal replies him back and they are now deciding the time, place and conditions of their date. Latest request includes having cameras, having all the meeting recorded. Erdoğan did not like the idea according to today’s news reports. Since when dates are recorded anyway? 🙂

a huge roundup on Turkish politics. (it looks like Erkan is back with roundups)

Turkey and human rights – Some progress and many setbacks

I am still optimistic, still, really. But there are not all good news here.
In the mean time: a first case. a policeman arrested because of assault to a young citizen:

Police Officer Arrested After Attacking Student

Efkan Bolaç, lawyer of the severely beaten student Güney Tuna, stated that 8 police officers were involved in the assault on her client: “Tuna was not …
PM Erdoğan’s speech at his party convention was discursively promising:

This Star daily headline underlines the fact that PM Erdoğan named political outsiders of Republican history from a wide range of political opposition.

[CROSS READER] Democratic initiative leaves its mark on AK Party congress

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) held its third ordinary party congress on Saturday at the ASKİ Sports Hall in Ankara.