Turkey: Issues for U.S. Policy

By Migdalovitz, Carol

Book Id: WPLBN0000199856
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 2008

Title:	Turkey: Issues for U.S. Policy
Author:	Migdalovitz, Carol
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Government publications, Legislation., Government Printing Office (U.S.)
Collections:	Government Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Government Printing Office


Citation APA MLA Chicago Migdalovitz, C. (n.d.). Turkey: Issues for U.S. Policy. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Excerpt
Summary: Turkey has long been considered a strategic U.S. and NATO ally. That it combines a predominantly Muslim identity with a secular democratic government has added to Turkey’s significance to the United States since September 11, 2001. Turkish domestic and foreign policy issues concern U.S. policymakers, who would like a stable, competent, friendly government in Ankara. Since 1999, a coalition of three parties of mismatched ideological preferences has presided over unprecedented financial crises and the deepest recession in half a century. On the other hand, the coalition has produced an impressive legislative record of economic and political reforms. Some economic indicators, such as inflation and interest rates, are showing improvement, but Turkey has yet to experience economic recovery. As an election nears, cleavages in the government may become more severe as coalition partners jockey for position. Other contenders are in opposition inside and outside parliament. Islamists may emerge from an election with strong support. Two parties have Islamist roots, but one of these is striving to be known as centrist rather than Islamist, and it leads opinion polls.

Table of Contents
Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Domestic Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Government Effectiveness and Political Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Role of Islamists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Human Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Economic Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Foreign Policy Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 War Against Terrorism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Iraq . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 European Union Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 European Security and Defense Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cyprus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Caucasus and Central Asia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Israel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Other Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 U.S. Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Executive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18