EGF Turkey File, 16 March — 31 March 2013

Insights into Turkish Domestic and International Politics

16 March — 31 March 2013

By John VanPool, EGF Turkey and Black Sea Regional Analyst

Key Points:

• A cease fire is declared by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to coincide with the Kurdish New Year. PKK fighters cross into Iraq, though the next steps in the process remain unclear.
• Leftist militants attack the Ministry of Justice and AKP headquarters in Ankara while Erdogan visits Denmark. Prime Minister pins the blame on the "Deep State".
• Israel officially apologizes for the Mavi Marmara incident and promises to compensate the victims' families. Full diplomatic relations are restored between the once close allies and Erdogan offers a conciliatory note on his huge diplomatic success.
• Iraq and Turkey continue to work on planning a Basra-Ceyhan oil pipeline despite rift over Iraqi-Kurdistan. In apologizing to Turkey, Israel's future for cooperating with Turkey on a gas pipeline project looks bright