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Erdogan turns East

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has tired of joining Europe, and aspires to "Putinize" Turkey not only by veering toward Muslim Asia but also by joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) and Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Dmitry Mezentsev show signed documents granting Turkey a partner status in SCO, in Almaty April 26, 2013.  REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov  (KAZAKHSTAN - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS) - RTXZ0S8
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in the throes of an intensive election campaign these days. He moves around in a seeming frenzy from one election rally to another, giving speeches, preaching and mostly lashing out at anyone who doesn’t think like him.

Erdogan is giving his all to help candidates of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) win in the March 30 local elections, which he has targeted as a show of force, proof of his political power in light of the growing criticism against him at home and abroad.

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