Foreign Policy
- Turkish President Hints That Prisoner Exchange Won Release of Hostages Held by ISIS
- EU Minister promotes Turkey’s new EU strategy
- ISIS Forays Send Waves of Refugees Into Turkey
- US Senate confirms John Bass as ambassador to Turkey
- Spain to replace Dutch in Turkey Patriot missile deployment
Economy and Energy
- New regulation on Turkey’s foreign trade body raises eyebrow
- As growth slows in Turkey, unemployment climbs
- Turkish President Erdoğan warns Moody’s and Fitch over assessments
Domestic Politics
- Turkey’s top boss warns that polarization may hinder reforms
- PM calls on CHP to positively ‘contribute to Turkey’s march’
Foreign Policy
Turkish President Hints That Prisoner Exchange Won Release of Hostages Held by ISIS
Speaking and answering questions at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, where Mr. Erdogan was attending the annual gathering of the United Nations General Assembly, he hinted that Turkey had engaged in a prisoner exchange with the Islamic State as part of the effort to win the release of the hostages.
~~~
New York Times, September 22, 2014, Turkish President Hints That Prisoner Exchange Won Release of Hostages Held by ISIS
Council on Foreign Relations, September 22, 2014, A Conversation with Recep Tayyip Erdogan
EU Minister promotes Turkey’s new EU strategy
Turkey has outlined a new strategy to secure accession to the European Union that vows determination in the political reform process, continuity in socio-economic transformation during the process, and effectiveness in communication.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 18, 2014, Turkey, EU Minister promotes Turkey’s new EU strategy
ISIS Forays Send Waves of Refugees Into Turkey
Fighters from the Islamic State have been storming through Kurdish villages in northern Syria in recent days, clashing with Kurdish militias, terrifying residents and sending tens of thousands of new refugees fleeing across the border into Turkey.
~~~
New York Times, September 21, 2014, ISIS Forays Send Waves of Refugees Into Turkey
US Senate confirms John Bass as ambassador to Turkey
The U.S. Senate has finally confirmed John Bass as the new United States ambassador to Ankara. Bass, who was nominated in June but had his nomination held up by the Senate until after the August recess, was approved on Sept. 17 by a vote of 98 to 0.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 17, 2014, US Senate confirms John Bass as ambassador to Turkey
Spain to replace Dutch in Turkey Patriot missile deployment
Spain will send a Patriot anti-ballistic missile battery to Turkey’s southern border with Syria as part of a NATO initiative, Defence Minister Pedro Morenes said on Sept. 17, replacing the Netherlands’ contribution to the deployment.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 18, 2014, Spain to replace Dutch in Turkey Patriot missile deployment
Economy and Energy
New regulation on Turkey’s foreign trade body raises eyebrow
A new regulation redefining the structure of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) has caused a stir, with many declaring it controversial in terms of economic liberty and legality.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 22, 2014, New regulation on Turkey’s foreign trade body raises eyebrow
As growth slows in Turkey, unemployment climbs
Turkey’s growth rate, which had been estimated by official and private institutions and organizations to be around 3 percent for the second quarter of 2014, has been announced at 2.1 percent – below expectations. This amounts to a notable slowdown in the growth tempo. As a natural consequence of this, seasonally adjusted unemployment has seen an upward alteration; unemployment is rapidly escalating
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 22, 2014, As growth slows in Turkey, unemployment climbs
Turkish President Erdoğan warns Moody’s and Fitch over assessments
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused rating agencies Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings of political motives in their assessments of the Turkish economy, warning Ankara could “cut its ties” with them, local media reported on Sept. 16.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 16, 2014, Turkish President Erdoğan warns Moody’s and Fitch over assessments
Domestic Politics
Turkey’s top boss warns that polarization may hinder reforms
The head of Turkey’s largest business organization has warned that “polarization” in Turkey might thwart progress in much-needed economic reforms, pledging the business world’s support for politicians in the bid to end social tension.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 18, 2014, Turkey’s top boss warns that polarization may hinder reforms
PM calls on CHP to positively ‘contribute to Turkey’s march’
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu repeated his calls to the leader of the main opposition to engage in dialogue with the government to “contribute to Turkey’s march,” but vowed to continue on the same path if he does not receive a positive approach.
~~~
Hurriyet Daily News, September 16,2014, PM calls on CHP to positively ‘contribute to Turkey’s march’