Turkish | Business Upturn

Erdogan’s government seeks measures to restrain Turkey’s Supreme Court

Aishi Saha — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:05:29 +0000

President Erdogan’s administration is exploring avenues to limit the authority of Turkey’s Constitutional Court following its decisions to release a jailed opposition member, as per senior officials and legislators within the ruling coalition.

In October, Turkey’s apex court ruled that the continued imprisonment of Can Atalay violated his right to serve in parliament after being elected while in detention during the May general election. Atalay, a lawyer, received an 18-year sentence in 2022 for his alleged role in organizing nationwide protests in 2013, which he denies.

The Constitutional Court’s decision to free Atalay prompted a standoff with the Court of Cassation, the nation’s top appeals tribunal, which refused to acknowledge the ruling, arguing that the former had overstepped its mandate.

President Erdogan’s adviser Mehmet Ucum criticised the Constitutional Court’s actions, calling them unconstitutional. Erdogan and his allies are concerned about the court’s extensive use of “individual applications,” enabling citizens to directly petition the court on rights issues.

The court has handled over 500,000 such applications since 2012, issuing rulings in over 484,000 cases. Erdogan hinted at legislative intervention to resolve the impasse, suggesting the creation of a separate “Turkish Human Rights Court” to handle individual applications.

While Erdogan’s government insists that the judiciary aligns with international standards, the European Commission has expressed concerns about democratic standards, human rights, and judicial independence in Turkey.

The Constitutional Court’s increasing popularity, especially for its rulings on individual applications, reflects its growing resonance with the public. However, several of its decisions have irked Ankara, including the release of journalist Sahin Alpay in 2018, accused of involvement in the failed 2016 coup.

Despite occasional rulings against the government, the court has also upheld key government measures, such as emergency laws enacted after the attempted coup in 2016. Erdogan’s supporters view the court as a symbol of Turkey’s functioning judiciary, while critics argue it exacerbates rather than resolves systemic issues.

The ongoing tension underscores Erdogan’s attempts to navigate the delicate balance between consolidating power and maintaining democratic legitimacy in Turkey.

Turkish-Russian trade hit by U.S. sanctions threat

Aishi Saha — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 16:31:21 +0000

Recent U.S. sanctions threats targeting financial firms doing business with Russia have caused a disruption in Turkish-Russian trade, impacting payments for both imported oil and Turkish exports, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The executive order issued by the U.S. in December, while not explicitly targeting energy, has complicated payments for Turkish imports of Russian crude oil and Russian payments for a wider range of Turkish exports. These sanctions aim to diminish Kremlin revenue and disrupt its activities in Ukraine without significantly affecting global oil markets or causing a spike in U.S. gasoline prices, particularly important as President Joe Biden seeks re-election later this year.

Despite the disruption, crude oil supplies to Turkey have not been significantly impacted, with only a small number of shipments experiencing delays. However, Russian oil exporters have reportedly not received payments from Turkey for several weeks, indicating challenges in executing energy transactions due to the sanctions threat.

The emerging payment issues stem from Turkish banks revising their business practices and implementing stricter compliance measures with Russian clients. While these measures have not halted Turkey’s crude oil supplies, they have led to delays and disruptions in payments, necessitating adjustments to payment methods and schedules.

Ankara, while critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, opposes Western sanctions on Moscow and has maintained close ties with both Russia and Ukraine throughout the conflict. However, pressure from the U.S. to enforce sanctions has prompted Turkish banks to tighten rules on Russian clients, potentially affecting trade relations between the two countries.

The disruption in Turkish-Russian payments began following the U.S. executive order in December, which threatened financial institutions facilitating transactions for entities targeted by U.S. sanctions with penalties. Russian authorities have acknowledged the challenges faced by Turkish banks in dealing with Russian clients under heightened U.S. pressure and have pledged to work with Turkey to find solutions.

While the full extent of the impact on Turkish-Russian trade remains to be seen, the recent developments highlight the complexities of international trade relations amidst geopolitical tensions and the far-reaching effects of U.S. sanctions policies on global trade dynamics.

Turkish military kills 26 YPG members

United News of India (UNI) — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:48:51 +0000

Ankara, Oct 6 : Turkish security forces responded to an “attack” by the Syrian Kurdish People’s Defense Units (YPG) in northern Syria and killed 26 Kurdish militants, Türkiye’s Defense Ministry said on Friday.

Turkey’s retaliation came after the YPG launched an “attack” on the Dabiq Base area in the Euphrates Shield Operation zone of the Turkish military in northern Syria late Thursday, the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish warplanes also launched airstrikes against the YPG and hit 30 targets in the Tal Rifaat, Jazira and Derik regions on Thursday night, according to the ministry.

Turkish, Israeli FM agree to improve bilateral relations: Ankara

United News of India (UNI) — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 03:43:32 +0000

Turkish and Israeli foreign ministers Mevlut Cavusoglu and Eli Cohen discussed bilateral relations by phone and agreed to improve them, the Turkish Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

“Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had a telephone conversation today (January 4) with new Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. Minister Cavusoglu congratulated his counterpart on the new appointment,” the ministry said.

“Minister Cavusoglu reminded Cohen of Turkey’s sensitivity and expectations on the Palestinian issue, and in this context stressed that Ankara considers unacceptable the provocative actions by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in relation to Al-Aqsa Mosque,” it said.

Cavusoglu emphasized the importance Turkey attaches to protecting the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and told his counterpart that Ankara expects to avoid any provocative actions.

“During the meeting, the ministers also agreed to work together to improve bilateral relations,” the Foreign Ministry said.
On Tuesday, Gvir visited Temple Mount, where Al-Aqsa Mosque – one of Islam’s most revered sites – is located. The visit sparked condemnation from much of the Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to protecting the status quo of the Temple Mount, a member of his office reportedly said on Tuesday. The Temple Mount is revered as a holy site by all of the Abrahamic faiths.