FOREIGN POLICY
- Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses
- Turkey, Iran signal thaw in ties amid mutual concern on Syria
- Turkey asks U.S. to extend pricing on Raytheon missile bid –sources
ECONOMY & ENERGY
- Energy needs trump Turkey-Israel tension
- Turkey says aware of Iraqi concern on Kurdish oil projects
- Turkey and Japan sign formal agreement to build second nuclear plant in Sinop
DOMESTIC POLITICS
- Turkish lawmakers end taboo on head scarves
- Amid debate, Turkey unveils rail tunnel under Bosporus
- Turkish Republic celebrates its 90th anniversary
| FOREIGN POLICY |
| Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses Hundreds of al-Qaeda recruits are being kept in safe houses in southern Turkey, before being smuggled over the border to wage “jihad” in Syria.These foreign jihadists have now largely eclipsed the “moderate” wing of the rebel Free Syrian Army, which is supported by the West. Al-Qaeda’s ability to use Turkish territory will raise questions about the role the Nato member is playing in Syria’s civil war. ~~~ The Telegraph, 30 October 2013, Al-Qaeda recruits entering Syria from Turkey safehouses Turkey, Iran signal thaw in ties amid mutual concern on Syria Turkey asks U.S. to extend pricing on Raytheon missile bid –sources |
| Energy needs trump Turkey-Israel tension Turkey and Israel’s political divergence in the past few years is of little concern to businessmen, especially when some of the world’s largest natural gas deposits are at stake.Israel, together with Cyprus, sits on more than 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean, according to U.S. Geological Survey assessments. That’s enough to meet natural gas needs for 2,400 years in energy-starved Turkey, which relies on Russia for 60% and Iran for 20% of its imports. ~~~ Wall Street Journal, 1 November 2013, Energy needs trump Turkey-Israel tension Turkey says aware of Iraqi concern on Kurdish oil projects Turkey and Japan sign formal agreement to build second nuclear plant in Sinop |
| Turkish lawmakers end taboo on head scarves A decadeslong taboo in Turkey was broken on Thursdaywhen four female lawmakers from the ruling party attended Parliament wearing Islamic-style head scarves, marking the latest shift from the country’s staunchly secular tradition. ~~~ Wall Street Journal, 31 October 2013, Turkish lawmakers end taboo on head scarves Amid debate, Turkey unveils rail tunnel under Bosporus Turkish Republic celebrates its 90th anniversary The official recognition of the Turkish Republic took place on Oct. 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. On that day, the new name of the nation and its status as a Republic was declared. After the declaration and a vote in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, revolutionary statesman and founder of the Turkish Republic Ataturk was unanimously elected as the first president of the Republic of Turkey. Since then, Turkey celebrates its Republic Day every year on Oct. 29. |
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