About: Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdish diplomat: Helping Middle East now would be cost-effective for Europe
Europe should engage in the Middle East by providing technical aid and promoting investment and programmes that enhance tolerance and peaceful coexistence, said Falah Mustafa Bakir in an interview.
Iraq, Turkey step up pressure over Kurdish independence vote
Iraq and Turkey yesterday (14 September) stepped up the pressure on Iraqi Kurdistan over its planned independence referendum, as the governor of oil-rich Kirkuk province that decided to take part in the vote was sacked.
Erdogan demands support against PKK at NATO meeting
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday (21 November) urged the European Union and West to step up backing of Ankara's fight against Kurdish militants, as he addressed a meeting of NATO lawmakers.
Germany ready to cooperate with Turkey on terrorism and PKK
Turkey often threatens to fall out with Germany on the Kurdish issue and its president has accused the Bundesrepublik of not doing enough to tackle the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). But it seems that Germany is anything but lenient towards the group. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
German MEP: Merkel only ‘pouring oil on the fire’ of Turkish-Kurdish conflict
Europe needs to up the pressure and terminate its refugee deal with Ankara, especially since the bloc only showed “concern” that Turkey arrested a number of Kurdish mayors this week, urges MEP Martina Michels in interview with EURACTIV Germany.
CSU warns against Turkish visa liberalisation
Bundestag Vice-President Johannes Singhammer (CSU) has warned that refugee numbers would increase if plans to grant visa liberalisation to Turkey come to fruition. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Car bomb attack on Turkey’s ruling party wounds 48
A car bomb exploded Monday (12 September) outside the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters in the eastern Turkish city of Van, wounding 48 people including two police officers, local authorities said.
Turkey’s careful incursion into Syria
Instead of a daring charge, Turkey is making a carefully calibrated entrance, as it has to balance and maintain relations both with the US and Russia, writes Stratfor.
Turkey recalls ambassador to Austria after rows
Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Austria to review relations after a series of disputes with the European Union member state, the Turkish foreign minister said on Monday (22 August).
10 dead as PKK intensifies bombing campaign in Turkey
Turkey was rocked by three deadly bombings against police and military forces as Kurdish guerrillas launched a new campaign of attacks targeting areas that are not predominantly Kurdish.
Turkish press campaigner arrests prompt EU criticism
Turkish authorities on Monday (20 June) arrested three prominent campaigners for press freedom, including the local representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda, human rights groups said.
Reporters Without Borders: European press freedom under threat
Attacks, conflict and repressive security laws are putting journalists under increasing pressure, even in Europe, according to Reporters Without Borders. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Turkey says will continue shelling Syrian Kurds
Turkey will continue to strike back at Kurdish fighters of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday (14 February),
Spanish MEP urges Commission to investigate Turkish army killings
A Spanish MEP has called upon the European Commission to launch an independent investigation into the killing of 60 people in the Turkish town of Cizre by the military on Sunday (7 February). EURACTIV Spain reports.
Erdogan: US must choose between Turkey and Kurdish forces
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has denounced a senior US official’s visit to Kurdish-controlled northern Syria, underlining the “mistrust” the visit has created in Ankara over the nature of Turkey’s “partnership” with the U.S.
Hahn urges Turkey to return to the Kurdish Peace Process
Speaking in the European Parliament yesterday (20 January), Neighbourhood Commissioner Johannes Hahn expressed concern over growing tensions in Turkey between the government and the Kurdish community, and strongly appealed for a return to the peace process.
George Friedman: The EU is increasingly unreliable and unpredictable
The United States has a partnership with Europe, but it can no longer think of NATO as the mechanism by which it is related to Europe, George Friedman told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Turkish Ambassador: EU accession is our strategic choice
Turkey upholds “European values” much better than some EU countries, the Turkish Ambassador to Poland, Yusuf Ziya Özcan, told EURACTIV Poland.
Russia and Turkey: Aerial combat and energy security
The aftermath of Turkey’s shooting down of a Russian warplane close to the Turkish-Syrian border on Tuesday morning could well have profound consequences for one of Europe’s most strategic energy relationships, writes John Roberts.
Turkish opposition leader: Erdogan seeks a single party government
Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu, leader of Turkey’s Republican People’s Party [CHP], believes that the EU candidate needs a coalition government to tackle the fragile situation in the country.
Pro-Kurdish leader warns of Turkey being dragged into civil war
While EU Council President Donald Tusk visited Turkey on Wednesday (9 September), the leader of the country's main pro-Kurdish party warned that the country was being dragged into a "civil war" following a wave of attacks on its offices by nationalists.
Dutch journalist faces Turkish court for Twitter, Facebook posts
A Turkish court will try a Dutch journalist on charges she disseminated "terrorist propaganda", a move that is likely to deepen Western fears over press freedom in the NATO member state.
Cry for help from Kobane: Why it is necessary to prevent another Srebrenica
For more than a month, a bitter struggle has ensued between Kurds and Islamists in Kobane (Arabic: Ain al-Arab). If the Syrian Kurdish town, on the border with Turkey, falls into the hands of the IS, this will be more than just another military victory for the "Islamic State", writes Gülistan Gürbey. If the international community continues just watching, Kobane may soon be mentioned in the same breath as Srebrenica and Rwanda, as a synonym for the failure of the international community.