Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator There is no place like home The first International Conference on the return of Syrian refugees was held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Damascus Umayyad Palace conference center. 27 countries were in attendance, including Russia, Iran, China, Lebanon, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Oman, and Pakistan. The UN attended as […]
Turkey’s leader Recep Erdogan is a problematic leader for both Russia and the United States. His country, Turkey is a NATO member. Yet Mr. Erdogan buys Russian weaponry against American wishes, and he is taking his country in an increasingly sectarian direction, recently getting the Hagia Sophia to restart services as a mosque (this is the Great Church of ancient Christianity).
Russia Today and the BBC both report that the Hagia Sophia (The Church of Holy Wisdom), the single largest Church in Byzantium, is to be repurposed as a mosque. This move ends 86 years of the building serving a “neutral purpose” as a museum, where neither Muslim nor Christian was allowed to pray in open sight. This move is understandably tragic for Orthodox Christians, particularly the Greeks, but there are several ways to understand this situation.
The U.S. continues to support the dictatorship of Saudi Arabia—as a key ally—even after the horrific murder of Jamal Khashoggi and the horrendous five-year bombing campaign on Yemen, writes Ann Wright. By Ann Wright in Istanbul Special to Consortium News…Read more →
As the forces of the Syrian Arab Army prepare to move on the last major terrorist enclave in northwestern Syria, time looks like it may be running out for the various terror groups supported by Turkey and the Gulf monarchies throughout the Syrian war. The nation of Turkey may also be in trouble since they have been in charge of the de-confliction zone in Idlib for some time but have chosen to use the area as a hub for rallying terrorist groups for other ambitions instead.
There has been some confusion lately as to why the Turkish President sometimes says cool things like “Israel is a terrorist state.” Here’s a brief explainer for you:
Let’s start with a question about whatever country you might live in. When do your politicians kick their lies into overdrive?
ANKARA, TURKEY — There is currently a case making its way through the U.S. federal courts that is playing a significant role in increasing tension between Washington and Ankara. Federal prosecutors in New York recently announced they would seek a 15- to 20-year prison sentence for Mehmet Hakan Atilla, a Turkish national who was formerly an executive at the majority-Turkish-state-owned Halkbank.
Recep Erdogan, the President of Turkey, is not backing down from his country’s intimidating behavior towards Greece. This, from a nation that is supported by NATO and wants to be a full part of the European Union. From the Greek publication Greek Reporter:
Through his efforts to implement a police state and restore the Ottoman Empire, President Erdogan of Turkey has squandered his once-strong position as a regional leader, argues Alon Ben-Meir. By Alon Ben-Meir It is difficult to fathom why Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip…Read more →
ANKARA, TURKEY — Over the last decade or so, the West has been cheering for a rising Turkey as a nation that could set a positive example for other Western allies in the region. However, as Turkey has gained this new level of success under President Recep Erdogan, its plans have changed and Ankara has begun to establish its own path for the future, independent from other nations or blocs.
