Struggles in Turkey

An editorial in The International Herald Tribune analyzes the current attempts to ban the AKP, arguing that “a high court decision to nullify the popular will by dissolving a legitimately elected party would cast a pall over Turkish democracy and make it harder than it already is for Turkey to gain membership in the European Union.”

In a discussion on the interplay between Turkey, Iraq, and the PKK, Bitterlemons International presents opinions on the topic. Hiwa Osman argues that a ripe opportunity has presented itself to engage in “direct talks between Ankara and Arbil,” while Abdulkadir Onay urges Iraqi Kurds to recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization and thus “come on board” with the U.S., Iraqi and Turkish governments. The Council on Foreign Relations’ Steven A. Cook states, “Washington would not look favorably on any Turkish actions in the north that would precipitate further Iranian meddling in Iraq.” Bulent Aras argues that Turkey’s new strategy in regards to the Kurds is “based on three principles: domestic peace, regional legitimacy and coordination with the United States and the European Union.”