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Turkey's Foreign Policy Straddles East and West

Semih Idiz writes that while Turkey has intensified its anti-Western rhetoric to curry ties with the Arab and Islamic world, it is still invested in deepening ties with NATO and furthering its bid for EU membership.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) shakes hands with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting in Ankara December 7, 2012. Ban called on the international community and the U.N. Security Council on Friday to unite and take decisive action to end the conflict in Syria, saying only a political solution could end the violence. REUTERS/Kayhan Ozer/Prime Minister's Press Office/Handout (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THI

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan must have been surprised upon hearing remarks by the Nobel Committee last week relating to his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as the European Union was being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Referring to Turkey as a country that is important for world peace, the Nobel Committee also appeared to suggest that the AKP is on course in terms of Ankara’s EU bid.

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