TUSIAD Turkey Letter: 26 August 2014

State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said, “Well, I understand this is a nomination. There’s a process that has to play out now. We look forward to working with whoever is the next prime minister. And I think we’ll refrain on further comment until that process is over.”

~~~

US Department of State Press Briefing, August 21, 2014

British MPs ask Turkey to stop flow of jihadists

A British politician has floated the idea of facilitating Turkey’s stalled European Union membership bid in order to encourage the full membership candidate to put up a stronger fight against the jihadist militants.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 24, 2014, British MPs ask Turkey to stop flow of jihadists

Turkey adds ISIL spokesman and five others to al-Qaeda sanctions list

The Turkish government has added six individuals to its blacklist, including the spokesperson of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in line with a U.N. decision updating the al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee’s list of individuals and entities subject to sanctions.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 25, 2014, Turkey adds ISIL spokesman and five others to al-Qaeda sanctions list

Turkey extends deadline for anti-missile defense proposals till Dec 31

Turkey has again extended the deadline for bids for a multi-billion dollar anti-missile defense system tender, despite having provisionally awarded the deal to China last year.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 26, 2014, Turkey extends deadline for anti-missile defense proposals till Dec 31

Armenian foreign minister set to visit Turkey for Erdoğan’s inauguration

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian has announced his attendance to President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s inauguration ceremony in Ankara on Aug. 28, according to the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tigran Balayan.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 26, 2014, Armenian foreign minister set to visit Turkey for Erdoğan’s inauguration

Ankara has been forced to suspend drilling at oil fields inside Iraq amid the continuing insurgency crisis in the country, a top energy official said on Thursday.

~~~

Today’s Zaman, August 21, 2014, Turkey suspends oil drilling in Iraq amid tension

Stiglitz Joins Pimco Warning That Turkey Faces Exodus Risk
Turkey faces the “real risk” of a sudden stop in short-term capital inflows that the nation depends on to finance its current-account deficit, according to Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
~~~
Bloomberg, August 21, 2014, Stiglitz Joins Pimco Warning That Turkey Faces Exodus Risk

The Justice and Development Party, which has ruled Turkey for more than a decade, nominated the foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, on Thursday to succeed President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan as prime minister and party chairman.

~~~

New York Times, August 21, 2014, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Nominated to Be Turkey’s Next Premier

Davutoğlu implies his will to work with Babacan

During his first meeting with President-elect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s inner Cabinet after being named Erdoğan’s successor, outgoing Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has vowed to maintain economic stability, including working with Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan in the new Cabinet.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 25, 2014, Davutoğlu implies his will to work with Babacan

Main opposition CHP leader promises to step down if votes shrink

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), has said in an interview with Hürriyet that he will quit his seat if the party loses votes in next year’s parliamentary elections.

~~~

Hurriyet Daily News, August 25, 2014, Main opposition CHP leader promises to step down if votes shrink