by Samir Salha | Jul 4, 2014 | Opinion
Until recently, the persistent confrontations between Ankara and Erbil reminded us of the traditional joke involving Turkish folk figures Temel and Dursun, the “best of enemies.” The joke goes that Temel and Dursun are both sentenced to death. When the executioner...
by Samir Salha | Jun 27, 2014 | Opinion
A broad-ranging political, media and public discussion erupted inside and outside Turkey as soon as Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of the secular Atatürk-founded Republican People’s Party (CHP) announced that Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu would be the opposition’s candidate...
by Samir Salha | Jun 15, 2014 | Opinion
Clashes and confrontations have returned once more to southeast Turkey, known for its large Kurdish population, after a two-year truce with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This ceasefire had been preceded by a political truce with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan who...
by Samir Salha | Jun 6, 2014 | Opinion
Just hours after the recent Soma mine disaster, the Israeli embassy in Ankara cancelled an Israeli Independence Day ceremony out of respect for Turkey’s tragedy. Tel Aviv also announced that it was ready to provide any technical or medical support Ankara needed to...
by Samir Salha | May 8, 2014 | Opinion
The most recent meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) seemed to confirm the idea that the party is not overly keen on seeing President Abdullah Gül extend his term in office, which is set to end this summer. Gül himself...
