News archive of April 2015

Some 123 U.S. soldiers arrived in Turkey as part of a program to train and equip the putatively moderate Syrian opposition, along with weapons that are being transferred to ?ncirlik Airbase in the southern province of Adana.

Turkey?s National Security Board (MGK) chaired by President Tayyip Erdo?an decided on April 29 that the measures would be stepped up to stop ?structures within the state,? which would from now be regarded as a major threat to the country?s national security in the doctrinal ?Red Book.? ?Parallel structure?

I have hope because main opposition Republican People?s Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu has raised the level of the rhetoric in the election campaigns from curses, contempt and insults to a decent place. 

I am hopeful because the CHP has prepared a very good economic program; it has set up a very good team to administer this program. 

There was a new arrangement in the hall where the National Security Council (MGK) meeting was held on April 29 in President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s palace. I saw it in the photographs.  

A giant table is in the hall. The table resembles a horseshoe and in the middle of the empty space there is a solid pyramid. 

On paper, Turkey has really good laws protecting workers jobs. According to the World Bank?s Doing Business survey, the country has tight and inflexible labor market regulation ? one of the most stringent in the world. Working hours are rigid, and it is not only quite difficult, but also costly to fire workers.

Until a few days ago, the Turkish Cypriot breakaway statelet was the only entity in the entire Eastern Mediterranean that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an had not yet picked a fight with. Last weekend, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus joined Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt ? countries at various shades of cold war with Turkey. 

On the telephone, the voice of new Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Ak?nc? was rather energetic, determined and to the point: "Enough my friend? Few things were said; it is over. No merit in continuing discussion."

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, if you happen to walk on the shores of Bebek and Rumelihisar? in Istanbul, three of the four young people that you bump into will most likely be speaking Arabic as their native language. And they will not be from Qatar or Kuwait. They are the wealthy Syrians who are in exile in Istanbul.

One of the largest monumental arches remaining on Turkish soil is set to become a major tourist attraction in the southern province of Adana. 

The Istanbul Tanp?nar Literature Festival will be held from May 4 to 8 with the theme ?City and Frontiers,? hosting dozens of writers from various countries.

Turkey?s first and biggest literature festival, the Istanbul Tanp?nar Literature Festival (ITEF) is set to be held between May 4 and 8, with more than 30 writers from 26 countries attending the festival.