by Gareth Jenkins (vol. 6 no. 14 of the Turkey Analyst)

On August 5, 2013, a court in the Turkish town of Silivri, 45 miles west of Istanbul, delivered its verdicts in the long-running Ergenekon case. A total of 242 of the 275 defendants were convicted of belonging to what prosecutors describe as the “Ergenekon terrorist organization”. Nineteen received life sentences, while 24 were acquitted. Verdicts were postponed against six defendants who had already fled Turkey. Charges were dropped against the three who died before the completion of the trial.

by Dr. Ozan Serdaroğlu (vol. 6 no. 14 of the Turkey Analyst)

There may finally be ground for a resolution of the Cyprus conflict, as the Turkish government may be ready to cut the knotted puzzle instead of spending time to solve it. The  political disunity in Turkish northern Cyprus, the economic calamity in Greek Cyprus and the exploration of rich energy resources in Cypriot territorial waters have enlarged  Turkey’s room of maneuver, encouraging the Turkish government to pursue a  Cyprus policy that is no longer focused on a  scenario of reunification.  Ankara has come to view the future of Cyprus in a broader Eastern Mediterranean perspective.  Turkey does not seek diplomatic success over the “Cyprus case”. It is running after bigger spoils, but to be successful, Ankara will have to entice the Greek Cypriots to embrace a similarly pragmatic approach.

by Gareth Jenkins (vol. 6 no. 13 of the Turkey Analyst)

On July 3, 2013, it was announced that the First Administrative Court in Istanbul had cancelled the Taksim Square and Gezi Park redevelopment project that had triggered the unprecedented anti-government protests that have been sweeping Turkey since late May. The verdict has still to be ratified by the higher court known as the Danıştay, or Council of State. Whatever the Danıştay’s decision, there can be little doubt that the protests have already permanently changed the Turkish political landscape.