Participants in the Caspian oil and gas forum, just held in Baku, confirmed that Turkey's AKP government has reverted to obstruction of the Nabucco project for Caspian gas to Europe (Trend Capital, Day.az, Turan, Reuters, June 3-5). The government in Ankara seemed to have adopted... MORE

Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz discussed energy issues with Azeri officials on the sidelines of a recent soccer game. Following his talks, Yildiz commented on the status of the Turkish-Azeri talks on pricing gas imports and Turkey's position on the Nabucco project.... MORE

In response to the Turkish President Abullah Gul advocating a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question, 72 NGO's in Diyarbakir province declared their support for his steps toward solving the issue. They also requested that the PKK extend its unilateral ceasefire first announced in April... MORE

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has started to export its oil to European markets, under partnerships with Turkish and other international energy companies. Following a new consensus on the distribution of revenues between the central administration in Baghdad and the KRG, oil from the Tawke... MORE

On May 30 Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered his State of the Union address, focusing on Turkey's enhanced profile in regional diplomacy. Erdogan provided details relating to his trips to Azerbaijan, Russia and Poland, and discussed recent foreign policy initiatives, most importantly Turkey's... MORE

The Turkish government drafted a bill on a proposed de-mining project on the Syrian border, which sparked controversy among neo-nationalists and Islamists (EDM, May 21). The Justice and Development Party (AKP) government proposed to lease the de-mined area for 44 years to a foreign company.... MORE

On May 23-25 the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu participated in the thirty sixth session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Foreign Ministers Council in Damascus. As well as marking Turkey's increased profile within regional diplomacy, the event provided an opportunity for Davutoglu... MORE

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a speech in the northwestern city of Duzce criticized the deep fear of foreign nationals and minorities in Turkey. Erdogan stated: "Over many years, suspicions toward foreigners existed in this country. This mindset has seemingly not changed. They... MORE

Muqtada al-Sadr, the young Iraqi Shi’a cleric who has been studying to become an Ayatollah in the Iranian city of Qom since 2007, recently visited Turkey in a trip whose purpose is reported to have been a series of talks on Iraqi-Turkish security issues (al-Jazeera,... MORE