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Trend, Azerbaijan
Jan 1 2015
365 days in Turkey
1 January 2015, 13:00 (GMT+04:00)
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The outgoing 2014 was rich in numerous events in Turkey's political life.
If we recall Turkey's events for the period from December 17, 2013 up
till now, we can see that this year was not easy for the country.
Postmodern revolution and Fethullah Gulen
After Turkey was able to prevent a military coup according to "Balyoz"
plan ("Sledgehammer") in 2010, many people believed that the political
collisions completed in the country.
But Turkey's events which occurred on December 17, 2013 can be
regarded as a coup organized by Fethullah Gulen's movement and
directed against the government represented by the police and judicial
systems.
Following a loud corruption scandal Minister of Economy Zafer
Caglayan, Minister of Environment and City Planning Erdogan Bayraktar,
Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Minister for EU Affairs Egemen
Bakhysh were forced to resign.
The country awaited new resignations in the government, but this did
not happen. The then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the
new staff of the Cabinet of Ministers. Other situation could not
happen in Turkey, having long state traditions.
Most important municipal elections in Turkey's history
Another important event took place in Turkey's political life on March
30, 2014: municipal elections which were extremely important for the
country.
Although the preparations of the elections officially started on
Feb.18, the pre-election competition in Turkey began much earlier.
Both the Justice and Development Party and the opposition regarded the
voting day - March 30 - as a turning point in Turkey's history. It was
either win or lose. However, many were aware that the ruling party,
which has been in power since 2002, that's to say, in the last 12
years, is much stronger than the opposition.
Presidential election and 'New Turkey'
Undoubtedly, another remarkable event in Turkey's political life was
the presidential election that was for the first time held with
people's participation on Aug.10, 2014. The vast majority of the
country's population believed that Erdogan will win in the election.
Against the backdrop of the political collapse of "Muslim Brotherhood"
in Egypt, Erdogan's victory in the presidential election and the
victory of the Justice and Development Party in the municipal
elections gave ground to say that only Turkey is the genuine adherent
of "Neo-Ottomanism" in the Middle East.
By the way, Erdogan's victory gave confidence that the ruling Justice
and Development Party will win in the parliamentary elections in 2015
as well.
Neighboring "Islamic State"
Announcement of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" about the
creation of a "caliphate" on the territories of Iraq and Syria, and
the instability in the region, could not, of course, bypass Turkey.
Many terrorist organizations would like to turn Turkey into an arena
of fighting. To do this, the supporters of the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers' Party, known as the PKK, and the Democratic Unity Party (PYD)
held mass protests in Turkey. Their cause allegedly was a mass murder
of Kurds in the Syrian town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Al-Arab.
The true purpose of the protests lied in suspending the process of
"democratic solution of the Kurdish problem" (Turkish Çözüm süreci),
which began in 2009 and was aimed at establishing relations with the
Kurds.
Gulen movement and its confrontation with the government of Turkey
The court decision on arresting Fethullah Gulen has been a logical
continuation to the confrontation between the Gulen movement and the
Turkish government.
Despite declaring victory over the Hizmet movement, which is called a
structure "parallel" to the government, the Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has not yet achieved Gulen's extradition from the US.
Meanwhile, this can affect the outcome of the 2015 parliamentary elections.
Changing interests of Turkey: relations with Russia, EU
One of the memorable events of 2014 became the visit of Russian
President Vladimir Putin to Turkey and harsh statements of Ankara and
the EU. Anti-Russian sanctions, imposed by the West after the Crimean
events, became a good chance in every sense for Ankara.
Discussion of Turkish Stream gas pipeline and Akkuyu NPP construction
issues by Moscow and Ankara gives grounds to claim that an alliance
between Russia and Turkey, which was once only a dream, is real.
It is quite likely that the strengthening of bilateral relations of
Ankara and Moscow will dramatically affect the region, in particular
the interests of the countries situated in it, relegating relations
with Armenia for Russia to the background.
As for the relations between Turkey and the EU, the statements of
Ankara towards this structure give grounds to claim that, despite the
continuation of reforms for joining the European Union, Turkey has
lost interest to this organization. And this is the result of the
double standards of the EU towards Turkey.
One can assume that the coming 2015 will also be remembered in Turkey
by serious moments, in particular, by parliamentary election and the
adoption of the new Constitution. In addition, the centenary of the
so-called Armenian genocide is also a major concern.
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2348815.html
Jan 1 2015
365 days in Turkey
1 January 2015, 13:00 (GMT+04:00)
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The outgoing 2014 was rich in numerous events in Turkey's political life.
If we recall Turkey's events for the period from December 17, 2013 up
till now, we can see that this year was not easy for the country.
Postmodern revolution and Fethullah Gulen
After Turkey was able to prevent a military coup according to "Balyoz"
plan ("Sledgehammer") in 2010, many people believed that the political
collisions completed in the country.
But Turkey's events which occurred on December 17, 2013 can be
regarded as a coup organized by Fethullah Gulen's movement and
directed against the government represented by the police and judicial
systems.
Following a loud corruption scandal Minister of Economy Zafer
Caglayan, Minister of Environment and City Planning Erdogan Bayraktar,
Interior Minister Muammer Guler and Minister for EU Affairs Egemen
Bakhysh were forced to resign.
The country awaited new resignations in the government, but this did
not happen. The then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the
new staff of the Cabinet of Ministers. Other situation could not
happen in Turkey, having long state traditions.
Most important municipal elections in Turkey's history
Another important event took place in Turkey's political life on March
30, 2014: municipal elections which were extremely important for the
country.
Although the preparations of the elections officially started on
Feb.18, the pre-election competition in Turkey began much earlier.
Both the Justice and Development Party and the opposition regarded the
voting day - March 30 - as a turning point in Turkey's history. It was
either win or lose. However, many were aware that the ruling party,
which has been in power since 2002, that's to say, in the last 12
years, is much stronger than the opposition.
Presidential election and 'New Turkey'
Undoubtedly, another remarkable event in Turkey's political life was
the presidential election that was for the first time held with
people's participation on Aug.10, 2014. The vast majority of the
country's population believed that Erdogan will win in the election.
Against the backdrop of the political collapse of "Muslim Brotherhood"
in Egypt, Erdogan's victory in the presidential election and the
victory of the Justice and Development Party in the municipal
elections gave ground to say that only Turkey is the genuine adherent
of "Neo-Ottomanism" in the Middle East.
By the way, Erdogan's victory gave confidence that the ruling Justice
and Development Party will win in the parliamentary elections in 2015
as well.
Neighboring "Islamic State"
Announcement of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" about the
creation of a "caliphate" on the territories of Iraq and Syria, and
the instability in the region, could not, of course, bypass Turkey.
Many terrorist organizations would like to turn Turkey into an arena
of fighting. To do this, the supporters of the terrorist Kurdistan
Workers' Party, known as the PKK, and the Democratic Unity Party (PYD)
held mass protests in Turkey. Their cause allegedly was a mass murder
of Kurds in the Syrian town of Kobani, also known as Ayn Al-Arab.
The true purpose of the protests lied in suspending the process of
"democratic solution of the Kurdish problem" (Turkish Çözüm süreci),
which began in 2009 and was aimed at establishing relations with the
Kurds.
Gulen movement and its confrontation with the government of Turkey
The court decision on arresting Fethullah Gulen has been a logical
continuation to the confrontation between the Gulen movement and the
Turkish government.
Despite declaring victory over the Hizmet movement, which is called a
structure "parallel" to the government, the Turkish President Recep
Tayyip Erdogan has not yet achieved Gulen's extradition from the US.
Meanwhile, this can affect the outcome of the 2015 parliamentary elections.
Changing interests of Turkey: relations with Russia, EU
One of the memorable events of 2014 became the visit of Russian
President Vladimir Putin to Turkey and harsh statements of Ankara and
the EU. Anti-Russian sanctions, imposed by the West after the Crimean
events, became a good chance in every sense for Ankara.
Discussion of Turkish Stream gas pipeline and Akkuyu NPP construction
issues by Moscow and Ankara gives grounds to claim that an alliance
between Russia and Turkey, which was once only a dream, is real.
It is quite likely that the strengthening of bilateral relations of
Ankara and Moscow will dramatically affect the region, in particular
the interests of the countries situated in it, relegating relations
with Armenia for Russia to the background.
As for the relations between Turkey and the EU, the statements of
Ankara towards this structure give grounds to claim that, despite the
continuation of reforms for joining the European Union, Turkey has
lost interest to this organization. And this is the result of the
double standards of the EU towards Turkey.
One can assume that the coming 2015 will also be remembered in Turkey
by serious moments, in particular, by parliamentary election and the
adoption of the new Constitution. In addition, the centenary of the
so-called Armenian genocide is also a major concern.
http://en.trend.az/world/turkey/2348815.html