From Fear to Absurdity: Turkey's Continuing Politicized Court Cases
by Gareth H. jenkins (vol. 6, no. 7 of the Turkey Analyst)
On April 4, 2013, Turkey’s notorious Ergenekon trial took another twist when prosecutors accused one of suspects of murdering former President Turgut Özal in 1993, just four months after a judicial review had failed to find any evidence of foul play in Özal’s death. On April 9, 2013, prosecutors launched a judicial investigation against members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) for “inciting the public to participate in illegal meetings and demonstrations” after they helped organize protests outside the courthouse in Silivri, west of Istanbul, where the Ergenekon hearings are being held. Such developments have reinforced already grave concerns not just about the cases themselves but about prospects for the rule of law in Turkey.
The Turkey Triangle: Ankara, Moscow, Tehran
by Richard Weits (vol. 6, no. 7 of the Turkey Analyst)
Turkey has been using its energy and economic links with Russia and Iran to manage their political differences. Turkey’s relations with Russia improved considerably during the past decade, but those with Iran saw only a modest upturn due to enduring differences over regional security and religious-ideological principles. But in the past year, Turkey’s diverging response to the Arab Spring and especially the Syrian Civil War has strained both partnerships. No one talks anymore of an emerging Turkey-Iran-Russia axis in the heart of Eurasia.
The Challenge Ahead for Turks and Kurds: to Form a New National Partnership
by Halil M. Karaveli (vol. 6, no. 6 of the Turkey Analyst)
Abdullah Öcalan’s call for an end to the Kurdish insurgency testifies that the era when violence defined the relations between the Turkish state and the Kurds is coming to a close. Yet what must now ensue will be no less challenging. An enduring peace requires that Turks and Kurds, as citizens on equal footing, negotiate a societal compact. But Turkish nationalism may not be easily tamed, while the question is if Kurdish nationalism can ultimately be contained within an “Ottoman” framework.
Turkey's Privatization Program Marches On: Bids too Low?
by Ben Welch (vol. 6, no. 6 of the Turkey Analyst)
While the recent decision of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to cancel a privatization tender has caused concern, due to the unpredictable nature of the intervention, Turkey remains a popular venue for international investors seeking high-yielding infrastructure purchases. With more positive news in the first quarter of 2013 reflecting declines in the current account deficit, reasonable projected growth over the next few years, and the demographics pointing in the right direction, the stage is set for continued interest in the Turkish privatization market.
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