Turkey

Wednesday

James Scudamore

Objects of obsession

The Museum of Innocence is the sixth novel by Turkey’s most garlanded novelist and his first since he became a Nobel laureate in 2006. The Museum of Innocence is the sixth novel by Turkey’s most garlanded novelist and his first since he became a Nobel laureate in 2006. Pamuk’s unflinching eye on his country’s history has brought him well-documented trouble, but it is in the subtle exploration of how west and east collude and collide there that he excels, notably in the novel My Name Is Red, a bravura extemporisation on art and representation at the Ottoman court of the 16th century, and in the more modern setting of his

Monday

Alex Massie

Good News for Armenia! And Turkey!

Turkey and Armenia are planning to establish diplomatic ties and open their shared border. There’s still a long way to go, of course, and it owuld be wise to remain cautious on this but, nonetheless, the signs are encouraging. Normalising relations with Armenia will be another small step towards Turkey establishing its credentials as a candidate for EU membership. And it’s good news for Armenia too. Since I argued that Barack Obama might have been tougher on Turkey and the question of recognising the Armenian genocide, one should admit that staying relatively quiet was probably a sensible move. That doesn’t mean that the improvement in relations between Ankara and Yerevan

Friday

Alex Massie

Denying the Armenians

So, as expected Barack Obama has reneged upon his campaign promise to call the Armenian genocide, er, genocide. Instead it’s “slaughter”. Such are the prosaic demands of office. As Mike Crowley suggests this is not a defining moment in the Obama administration, but nor is it a particularly edifying spectacle. Memo to politicians: be careful what you promise! Memo to voters: Don’t believe the promises! Today’s statement in full here; reaction from Turks and Armenians here. UPDATE: Courtesy of Ben Smith there’s this video in which Samantha Power argues that: “What is amazing about Barack…[is]…his willingness as president to commemorate [the genocide] and certainly to call a spade a spade

Monday

Alex Massie

Turkey in the EU?

Like George W Bush, Barack Obama is in favour of Turkish accession to the EU. That’s grand, though those American progressives who would like to see europe do more, not less and project a more, not less unified approach to all manner of international issues – be they fiscal or military – should remember that Turkish membership makes a common european policy on just about any issue less, not more likely. For that reason, of course, so-called “euro-sceptics” ought to be enthusiasts for Turkish membership. Con Coughlin adds this reason for welcoming Turkish membership: Countries like France should also recognise that Turkish membership would strengthen, not weaken, the EU alliance,