Country Profile
From The Report: Turkey 2013
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The Turkish government is working to advance a resolution process that could remake domestic politics and enhance its foreign policy clout. A 28-year conflict with the autonomy-seeking Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) has cost over 40,000 lives, has held back economic growth and hampered Turkey’s bid for EU membership. Recent peace talks with the leader of the PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, led to a ceasefire agreement and militants have since begun to pull back from Turkey. Given its ability to bridge the divide between Europe and the Middle East, Turkey has become something of a role model for political transformation in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt. Still, issues including Cyprus and the Kurdish question remain key stumbling blocks for its EU bid, which is also hampered by continuing opposition from some European states. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is poised to continue the EU bid, but considers it to be non-vital and “not the end of the world” if it is not accepted. Irrespective of the accession process, Turkey is making its own way ahead, enjoying sustained economic growth and increasing clout within the region and internationally.
This chapter contains interviews with Zafer Çağlayan, Minister of Economy; M Rifat Hisarcılıoğlu, President, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB); and Hüseyın Diriöz, Ambassador and Assistant Secretary-General for Defence and Policy and Planning, NATO.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Emerging power: Recent changes, both internally and externally, suggest the country is set to gain greater regional and international influence
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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government is undertaking a bold resolution process that could remake domestic politics and enhance its foreign policy clout When the bodies of three ex-members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were found in a Paris office, the real target appeared to be a fledgling resolution process thousands of miles away in Turkey. Just days after the government announced it was in disarmament talks with the jailed leader of the armed PKK, a founding member…

Interview

OBG talks to Zafer Çağlayan, Minister of Economy
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Interview: Zafer Çağlayan What prompted the government to establish a new foreign investment incentive framework, and how quickly do you expect this to begin delivering results? ZAFERÇAĞLAYAN:The 2012 investment programme, which renewed and enhanced many of the incentives that were set forth in 2009, was established for three reasons. First, the programme will support our national development strategy, which foresees Turkey becoming one of the world’s 10 largest economies by…

Overview

Turning the page: Significant development has occurred over the last decade
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Many have hailed Turkey’s notable development performance over the past decade, and for good reason. The country averaged 5.1% growth between 2003 and 2012, one of the highest rates in the world. This was accompanied by drops in joblessness and poverty, as well as gains in school enrolment, home-ownership and life expectancy. Furthermore, in November 2012, the republic received its first investment-grade rating since 1994 – a testament to the success that policy makers have had in reducing sovereign…

Interview

OBG talks to M Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
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Interview: M Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu What can be done to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into capital projects and productive sectors of the economy? M RIFATHİSARCIKLIOĞLU: The business climate in Turkey has become more conducive to investment since the successful implementation of the structural adjustment programme. I believe that Turkey, as one of the fastest growing countries in the world, offers many opportunities in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, tourism, banking, housing,…

Interview

OBG talks to Hüseyin Diriöz, Ambassador and Assistant Secretary- General for Defence Policy and Planning, NATO
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Interview: Hüseyin Diriöz How has NATO’s restructuring process and the adoption of a new Strategic Concept affected Turkey’s status within the organisation? HUSEYINDİRİÖZ: The Strategic Concept sets out the alliance’s three core tasks: collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security. Turkey lies at the heart of all three tasks. The country’s armed forces are integrated into the NATO Defence Planning Process, helping to ensure the alliance is capable of collectively…