Ilnur Cevik

İlnur Cevik served as the editor-in-chief of the Turkish Daily News, which later became the Hurriyet Daily News, between 1983 and 2004. He also published The New Anatolian and currently hosts a news program "Echoes From the World" on Turkish TV Channel A. He served as the special advisor to former prime minister Suleyman Demirel between 1991 and 1993 and late prime minister Necmettin Erbakan between 1994 and 1997 on foreign policy and the Kurdish issue. On Twitter: @ilnurcevik

Turkey | Jun 25, 2013

Harsh Turkish Political Language Getting the Red Card in Europe

Turkish politicians are finding out the hard way that the language they use at home to win populist applause is unacceptable in the European arena.

Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis talks during an interview with Reuters in Istanbul June 26, 2012. Turkey expects France to unblock talks that are essential if it is ever to join the European Union, now that Socialist President Francois Hollande has replaced Nicolas Sarkozy who was outspoken in opposing the Muslim country's bid to join the bloc. Picture taken June 26, 2012. To match Interview TURKEY-EU/ REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3483U

Turkey | Apr 25, 2013

Turkish Prosecutor Implicates Military in Ozal’s Murder

Late Turkish president Turgut Ozal, who cut the military’s influence on politics, was allegedly murdered for supporting dialogue with the PKK, reports Ilnur Cevik.

Presidential honour guard carry coffin of President Turgut Ozal as Turkish generals with drawn swords accompany them during a funeral procession in Ankara April 21. Ozal died of a heart attack on April 17 - RTXF0JV

Turkey | Apr 19, 2013

Erdogan Hopes ‘Wise People’ Will Quiet Critics

The Wise People Delegation appointed by Prime Minister Erdogan has emerged as a governmental buffer against the small but vocal opposition to peace with the Kurdish movement, writes Ilnur Cevik.

Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan makes his address during a meeting with the 'wise people' commission in Istanbul April 4, 2013. Erdogan chaired an inaugural meeting of the 'wise people' commission, who will be consulted on a peace process with Kurdish militants. The commission is made up of academics, journalists and performing artists, and established by the government to promote the peace process nationwide. REUTERS/Metin Pala/Pool (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTXY8E6

Turkey | Apr 11, 2013

Kurdish Village Guards Face Uncertain Future

Turkey’s 80,000 village guards recruited to fight the PKK are edgy as the peace process progresses. They feel they may face a blood feud with the PKK and its sympathizers once the dust settles.

A Turkish soldier and a village guard patrol on a road near the southeastern Turkish city of Sirnak, near the Iraqi border, February 23, 2008. Thousands of Turkish troops have crossed into northern Iraq to hunt Kurdish rebels, television and a military source said on Friday, escalating a conflict that could undermine stability in the region. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas (TURKEY) - RTR1XGEI

Turkey | Mar 18, 2013

Turkey, PKK Learn From Past Mistakes

Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) are striving to avoid repeating past missteps and keep the peace process on track, writes Ilnur Cevik.

Selahattin Demirtas (front C), co-chairman of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), lights a traditional Newroz fire during a rally to celebrate the spring festival of Newroz in Istanbul March 17, 2013. Kurdish parliamentarians set off by boat on Monday to visit Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan in his island prison where they expected him to summon his fighters to cease fire and leave Turkey to help end a 28-year-old insurgency. The conflict has been a major source of instability in Turkey

Turkey | Mar 3, 2013

Ocalan Peace Plan Irks PKK Militant Leaders

Both PKK militants and Turkish officials and politicians committed to the negotiations with Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan are worried that the leaked letters might undermine the process, writes Ilnur Cevik.

Pro-Kurdish politicians Sirri Sureyya Onder (C), Pelvin Buldan (L) and Altan Tan (R), get on a boat to travel Imrali island in Istanbul February 23, 2013. A delegation of pro-Kurdish politicians left for Imrali island to meet with imprisoned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey launched tentative negotiations with PKK leader Ocalan in his jail on Imrali island near Istanbul in October, drawing up a framework to end a conflict which has killed more than 40,000 people. The delegation,

Turkey | Feb 12, 2013

Arrests, Resignations Plague Turkish Armed Forces

Ilnur Cevik writes that arrests, trials and resignations are undermining the efficiency of the Turkish Armed Forces.

A Turkish soldier walks on the Turkish-Syrian border in Ceylanpinar, southern Sanliurfa province November 13, 2012. A Syrian warplane struck homes in the town of Ras al-Ain on Tuesday within sight of the Turkish border, pursuing an aerial bombardment to force out rebels, a Reuters witness and refugees said.The second day of jet strikes sent Syrians scurrying through the flimsy barbed-wire fence that divides Ras al-Ain from the Turkish settlement of Ceylanpinar, thick plumes of smoke rising above the town. R

Turkey | Feb 5, 2013

Kirkuk Shines Spotlight On Turkey’s Iraq Policy

The recent terrorist bombings in Kirkuk have highlighted Turkey’s interest in protecting the Turkmen community there, while its strong relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government strain its ties with Baghdad, writes Ilnur Cevik.