News for today's 2018

GROWING TURKISH INFLUENCE IN THE BALKANS

10:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAYHt6gMmIvP2TE15D9Z6wtWIrAvrCPc2vRWHqscd932wlzzlzXboL4Upx6bU56zfZUwIN5DaHe9lbdXr2Rwh0oWS47DxLda6xRWBx2P6C7CZTMjWPcMplBBXYuAp-CL7mnqHDjC1q_J-/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAYHt6gMmIvP2TE15D9Z6wtWIrAvrCPc2vRWHqscd932wlzzlzXboL4Upx6bU56zfZUwIN5DaHe9lbdXr2Rwh0oWS47DxLda6xRWBx2P6C7CZTMjWPcMplBBXYuAp-CL7mnqHDjC1q_J-/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span class="hps"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="hps"><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">ERDOGAN:</span></b></span><b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;"> THE WITTY TACTICIAN?</span></b></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Ralf Borchard, via Deutschlandradio </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span class="hps"></span></span></div> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The visit</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps">of TURKISH Prime Minister</span> <span class="hps">Recep Tayyip</span> <span class="hps">Erdgoan</span> to<span class="hps"> KOSOVO</span> bears <span class="hps">significance, not only because</span> <span class="hps">90</span><span class="hps">percent of</span> <span class="hps">KOSOVO ALBANIANS</span> <span class="hps">are Muslims,</span> <span class="hps">but also</span> because of TURKEY’S <span class="hps">extensive economic involvement</span> <span class="hps">in the BALKANS</span>- <span class="hps">in contrast</span> <span class="hps">to that of the EUROPEAN UNION</span>.<br /><br /><span class="hps">Prizren</span> <span class="hps">is</span> <span class="hps">also</span><span class="hps">here</span>, <span class="hps">the TURKISH</span> <span class="hps">Prime Minister Recep</span> <span class="hps">Tayyip</span> <span class="hps">Erdogan</span> shouted <span class="hps">in a speech in</span> <span class="hps">Istanbul.</span> <span class="hps">It</span> <span class="hps">is the 16th</span> <span class="hps">June and</span> <span class="hps">Erdogan</span> <span class="hps">rallies</span> <span class="hps">against</span> <span class="hps">the Istanbul</span> <span class="hps">Gezi</span> <span class="hps">Park</span> <span class="hps">protesters and</span> <span class="hps">assured</span> <span class="hps">himself</span><span class="hps">the</span> <span class="hps">symbolic</span> <span class="hps">support of the entire</span> <span class="hps">Islamic</span> <span class="hps">world</span><span class="hps">- including the people</span> <span class="hps">in Pristina</span>, <span class="hps">KOSOVO'S capital</span>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">KOSOVO UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF TURKISH ECONOMY </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Erdogans</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps">visited</span> to <span class="hps">KOSOVO</span> was of <span class="hps">high symbolic</span> <span class="hps">value</span>. <span class="hps">90</span><span class="hps">percent of the population</span> there <span class="hps">are</span><span class="hps">Muslim</span> <span class="hps">KOSOVO ALBANIANS, and</span> <span class="hps">that TURKEY</span> is eager to </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">recall some old virtues of</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps"><span lang="EN">the</span></span><span lang="EN"> <span class="hps">Ottoman Empire,</span> <span class="hps">as a kind of</span> <span class="hps">regulatory power</span> <span class="hps">in the WESTERN BALKANS,</span> <span class="hps">has</span><span class="hps">already</span> been <span class="hps">made clear</span> <span class="hps">on many occasions by Erdogan.</span> In <span class="hps">KOSOVO</span>’S case, facts and<span class="hps"> figures</span> highlight<span class="hps"> this</span>, says <span class="hps">economist</span> <span class="hps">Lumir</span> <span class="hps">Abdixhiku</span>, director of the <span class="hps">Economic Research</span><span class="hps">Institute</span> <span class="hps">in Pristina</span> <span class="hps">Riinvest</span>:<br /><br /><span class="hps">"Tenders for the expansion</span> <span class="hps">of Pristina airport</span> <span class="hps">have been</span> <span class="hps">awarded to</span><span class="hps">a TURKISH company</span>, <span class="hps">road and highway construction</span><span class="hps">projects have been</span> <span class="hps">awarded to</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH companies, despite the fact that these were not the lowest bidders</span>, <span class="hps">the</span> <span class="hps">energy sector</span><span class="hps">and most likely</span> <span class="hps">very</span> <span class="hps">soon the</span> <span class="hps">telephone network</span> <span class="hps">in KOSOVO</span> are<span class="hps"> dominated by</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH companies</span>. Not to mention the<span class="hps"> food sector</span><span class="hps">which is almost entirely dominated by</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH companies</span>, thus giving <span class="hps">an idea of</span> <span class="hps">how strong</span> <span class="hps">this country</span> <span class="hps">is under the influence</span> <span class="hps">of the TURKISH economy</span>. <span class="hps">"</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TURKEY “CONQUERING” THE BALKANS? OR JUST CLEVER STRATEGIES?</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Erdogan</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps">not only visited</span> <span class="hps">Pristina</span>, <span class="hps">he</span> <span class="hps">also went to</span> <span class="hps">the southern town of Prizren, where the</span> <span class="hps">bulk of the TURKISH community</span><span class="hps">in KOSOVO</span> is <span class="hps">concentrated.</span> In <span class="hps">Prizren,</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH</span> is <span class="hps">one of four</span> <span class="hps">official languages</span>, there is even a <span class="hps">TURKISH</span> <span class="hps">radio and TV station and</span> <span class="hps">Levent</span> <span class="hps">Bush is</span> the <span class="hps">President of the TURKISH</span> <span class="hps">party</span> <span class="hps">in Prizren</span>:</span><br /><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRovJcAiUVPumy2FnseKyq0c00qhK0EOS2SwJ07jIdUA5jF1JLjRNikcIA_G4i7FjAVsx-bS2MnYOwA4vnPygkzCVclHnrPTvm9MD6UCVOcyV4iQqfpILfZpkGl7pze4pRA3X6pngQh6o/s1600/oped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRRovJcAiUVPumy2FnseKyq0c00qhK0EOS2SwJ07jIdUA5jF1JLjRNikcIA_G4i7FjAVsx-bS2MnYOwA4vnPygkzCVclHnrPTvm9MD6UCVOcyV4iQqfpILfZpkGl7pze4pRA3X6pngQh6o/s320/oped.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span class="hps">"We are</span> <span class="hps">currently</span> holding the position of <span class="hps">the Deputy Mayor</span> and <span class="hps">two TURKISH</span> municipality <span class="hps">councilors.</span> <span class="hps">We</span>are part of <span class="hps">the party</span> <span class="hps">of</span> KOSOVO’S <span class="hps">Prime Minister Hashim</span> <span class="hps">Thaci, and we</span><span class="hps">have</span> <span class="hps">together</span> <span class="hps">about 25</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH</span> <span class="hps">clubs</span> <span class="hps">– women groups as well as youth groups organizing</span> <span class="hps">various cultural events.</span>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Also significant</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> is <span class="hps">that</span> <span class="hps">Erdogan</span>did not <span class="hps">visit</span> <span class="hps">KOSOVO</span> <span class="hps">alone</span>, <span class="hps">but together</span> <span class="hps">with the</span> <span class="hps">new ALBANIAN</span> head of state, <span class="hps">Edi Rama</span>. <span class="hps">In ALBANIA</span>, the TURKISH influence <span class="hps">is</span> <span class="hps">also</span> <span class="hps">particularly strong, which in</span> <span class="hps">other BALKAN</span> <span class="hps">countries</span>, such as the <span class="hps">Orthodox Christian</span> <span class="hps">dominated</span><span class="hps">SERBIA is viewing</span> <span class="hps">with some skepticism</span>. <span class="hps">But even</span> <span class="hps">with SERBIA</span>, TURKEY <span class="hps">tries</span> <span class="hps">to tighten its</span> <span class="hps">band, as a</span> <span class="hps">supplement</span> <span class="hps">-</span> <span class="hps">many experts</span> <span class="hps">say,</span> or <span class="hps">as a counterweight</span> <span class="hps">–</span> for SERBIA <span class="hps">to move closer to</span> <span class="hps">the EUROPEAN UNION.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span class="hps"> </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">THE WEST’S LACK OF CULTURAL AWARENESS </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">According to <span class="hps">economic expert</span> <span class="hps">Lumir</span><span class="hps">Abdixhiku</span>, <span class="hps">TURKISH influence</span> in<span class="hps"> KOSOVO</span> <span class="hps">has a clear</span> <span class="hps">downside</span>:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">"We honestly need something else</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">; we need more <span class="hps">WESTERN companies</span> <span class="hps">in KOSOVO.</span> <span class="hps">The reason why</span> <span class="hps">there are no longer</span> <span class="hps">WESTERN EUROPEAN investors</span><span class="hps">here</span> <span class="hps">is</span> because they<span class="hps"> cannot adapt to the</span> <span class="hps">local</span> <span class="hps">investment</span> <span class="hps">environment</span>. <span class="hps">The only ones who</span> <span class="hps">do that</span> <span class="hps">are</span> <span class="hps">TURKISH investors</span>. TURKS are able to <span class="hps">come</span> to terms easily <span class="hps">with the</span> <span class="hps">high level of</span> <span class="hps">corruption as well as tough</span>and prolonged <span class="hps">bureaucracy. Politically, TURKISH</span> <span class="hps">dominance</span> in KOSOVO is <span class="hps">dangerous for us</span>. We need <span class="hps">WESTERN values, which</span> are <span class="hps">essentially</span><span class="hps">important</span> <span class="hps">for this country.</span> <span class="hps">"</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">STRINGING BALKAN POLICY BY THE EU IS MISSING </span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">TURKISH</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> <span class="hps">commitment</span> also <span class="hps">exposes</span> <span class="hps">the weaknesses</span> <span class="hps">of EU policy</span>: <span class="hps">While the EUROPEAN UNION</span> promised <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="hps">all</span> <span class="hps"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Western Balkan countries</span> the perspective of<span class="hps"> gradually joining the EU</span>, <span class="hps">the financial</span> <span class="hps">crisis</span> has made the EU wary of EU enlargement, thus <span class="hps">a stringent</span> <span class="hps">BALKAN</span> <span class="hps">strategy</span> <span class="hps">is missing -</span> <span class="hps">a gap</span>, which <span class="hps">Prime Minister Erdogan</span> is only too determined and eager to close. In order to achieve this he grabs every opportunity<span class="hps"> increase TURKEY’S economic, political</span> <span class="hps">and cultural influence</span> <span class="hps">in the BALKANS.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Related articles regarding TURKEY</span></b></span><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">:</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/07/turkish-leadership-demoralized.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/07/turkish-leadership-demoralized.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/turkey-in-turmoil.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/turkey-in-turmoil.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/06/turkeys-double-edged-sword-policies-or.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/turkeys-sunni-crescent.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkeys-chess-game.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/turkey-shiite-persians-versus-wahhabi.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/seismic-shift-in-middle-east.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://iwpr.net/report-news/syria-becomes-focus-iranian-turkish-rivalry">http://iwpr.net/report-news/syria-becomes-focus-iranian-turkish-rivalry</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/turkey-boom-most-since-ataturk-lets-erdogan-take-up-masterpiece.html">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/turkey-boom-most-since-ataturk-lets-erdogan-take-up-masterpiece.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/04/turkeys-changing-foreign-policy-stance.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/04/turkeys-changing-foreign-policy-stance.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/04/turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/turkeys-erratic-foreign-policies-all.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/turkey-and-kurds.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/turkey-and-kurds.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkeys-foreign-policy-poker-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/turkeys-foreign-policy-poker-game.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>

GROWING TURKISH INFLUENCE IN THE BALKANS

ERDOGAN: THE WITTY TACTICIAN? By Ralf Borchard, via Deutschlandradio The visit of TURKISH Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdgoan to K...

'Saturday Night Live' recap: Edward Norton is here to scare -- VIDEO

10:19 AM Tukiyooo 0

'Saturday Night Live' recap: Edward Norton is here to scare -- VIDEO 'Saturday Night Live' recap: Edward Norton is here to scare -- VIDEO

http://popwatch.ew.com 'Saturday Night Live' recap: Edward Norton is here to scare -- VIDEO Edward Norton may seem like a host out o...

HOTTIE ALERT: Zac Efron

10:05 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLOw6klJU41ytNWTkyS5uw2Fa5O11SQxbeGubrS5vSfoatOuYrLgcxjvdSLj7tQTefLglwTLCCUcmI3AB5hE1nKNlN4e5FDKuNM4lXjIRORM-wa-NoSGhtmyDYX-BYaiqTkS_ckG9eCa_/s1600/zac+efron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLOw6klJU41ytNWTkyS5uw2Fa5O11SQxbeGubrS5vSfoatOuYrLgcxjvdSLj7tQTefLglwTLCCUcmI3AB5hE1nKNlN4e5FDKuNM4lXjIRORM-wa-NoSGhtmyDYX-BYaiqTkS_ckG9eCa_/s1600/zac+efron.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hate it when Miley Cyrus shows off her tongue... but when it comes to Zac Efron, it's a different story. I don't mind if he does this more often... for realz!!!! Agree?</span></td></tr></tbody></table>

I hate it when Miley Cyrus shows off her tongue... but when it comes to Zac Efron, it's a different story. I don't mind if he does t...

No Treats Week (Hot for New Years)

9:46 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">October is coming to an end and that only means one thing- <b><span style="color: #b45f06;">HALLOWEEN!</span></b></span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A lot of you have voiced your concerns over this particular holiday, saying you don't know how you're going to control yourselves and stay on track. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do not fear! I have the perfect challenge to help keep you on track:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(</span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnsjVVX5EdA" target="_blank">Click here</a></u></b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> to find out more about the Hot for New Years challenge if you're new here)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrHu51NeC26aOJvClxEaq-JzzAatopyxX0Pfcj4QxuT-H5WpSnb55oEU69Px42EfivZn43CNRSPK_v8-Su4Syf6qmSH3n6xNNcmL90Dc_2EEaaHewyfmqt2r0VPDF8Mkf9U1Ay30_2jFS/s1600/Hot+For+New+Years+october-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrHu51NeC26aOJvClxEaq-JzzAatopyxX0Pfcj4QxuT-H5WpSnb55oEU69Px42EfivZn43CNRSPK_v8-Su4Syf6qmSH3n6xNNcmL90Dc_2EEaaHewyfmqt2r0VPDF8Mkf9U1Ay30_2jFS/s400/Hot+For+New+Years+october-2013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><h4><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>NO TREATS WEEK:</b></span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The challenge this week is simple. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eat healthy and clean all week, up until Thursday(Halloween) when you can treat yourself!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With this challenge, i hope to show you that you can enjoy special occasions despite what your goals are, its all about finding a good balance between being healthy and treating yourself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you think you can take on this challenge? What are you going to be up to this Halloween? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Comment below and let me know!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also! check out this video i posted <b>'Weight Loss on Halloween'</b>,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefully it should give you some extra help to stay on track this week</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLUFSJDrpL4?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stay healthy</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">x</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

challenge fitness halloween HEALTH Hot for New Years moderation no treats Weight Loss No Treats Week (Hot for New Years)

October is coming to an end and that only means one thing- HALLOWEEN! A lot of you have voiced your concerns over this particular holiday, s...

CHIKA: Angel Locsin & Phil Younghusband Confirming Breakup

9:45 AM Tukiyooo 0

Angel Locsin and Phil Younghusband thank their fans for their support and confirm their break up in two separate posts in their social media accounts.<br /><br />Here's Angel Locsin addressing the issue on her Twitter account (<a href="https://twitter.com/143redangel/status/393429049764085760">@142redangel</a>):<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">This is my official statement: Sa mga naglalabasang balita kung saan na-quote po na nag pa-interview ako, hindi po ito totoo. Wala pa po akong nakakausap about the issue dahil sa totoo lang po hindi ko pa ho kayang kumausap ng kahit sino sa press at nag si-sink in pa lang po samin ngayon ang lahat ng ito. Pasensya na po. Dalawa pa lang po ang nakausap ko, Si Manay Ethel na manager ko at si Darla na sinagot ko lang po ang text sa akin dahil naramdaman ko ang sincerity niya although hindi po ako directly nagsalita about sa amin ni Phil. It was also off the record. Sa lahat po ng nagtatanong kung totoo bang hiwalay na kami ni Phil, Totoo po. Sana po maintindihan nyo kung hindi na po namin sasabihin ang dahilan..pero maayos po kaming naghiwalay at mutual decision po ito. Pasensya na po kung hindi po kami makasagot agad tungkol sa status ng aming relasyon. Lalong-lalo na po sa mga sumuporta sa aming dalawa. Hindi po namin kayo binalewala... mahirap lang po talaga kung nasa ganitong sitwasyon. Nagulat na lang kami na naunahan na kami ng balita bago pa man kami makapagusap uli. Salamat po sa lahat ng sumubaybay at sumuporta sa journey namin ni Phil lalo na ho dito sa twitter. Hinding-hindi po namin malilimutan.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UPEPd9GPCMgBpaNmYjF887PQUxof8QaIw20EM3XpRLCTAAmaAqQSMdnz8-D-_9x9NqWXMjfjHaK9PKhac9j1yFDPymbBaHys2SXOA6kelySnSw4QizXiC2rDiU6KWxRWBdGfQWEZBtN3/s1600/angel+locsin+official+statement+regarding+breakup+with+phil+younghusband.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UPEPd9GPCMgBpaNmYjF887PQUxof8QaIw20EM3XpRLCTAAmaAqQSMdnz8-D-_9x9NqWXMjfjHaK9PKhac9j1yFDPymbBaHys2SXOA6kelySnSw4QizXiC2rDiU6KWxRWBdGfQWEZBtN3/s320/angel+locsin+official+statement+regarding+breakup+with+phil+younghusband.png" width="296" /></a></div>Also, here's Phil Younghusband's post on his Instagram account confirming the breakup along with a "Thank You for your support" photo:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx7ldmfk_ih6S5uKue0b-VJF2z7XxVv_hIHrxWS78R6AWs144EGOq-Ov26O5MIMwAqiU-_UEJCvfV9bIc0KkXTczerhpAsoX5wbp3vzHJBEPn3_1bYiJiId6gn1d6rdyCS3wgEM0NgwK_/s1600/phil+younghusband+statement.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx7ldmfk_ih6S5uKue0b-VJF2z7XxVv_hIHrxWS78R6AWs144EGOq-Ov26O5MIMwAqiU-_UEJCvfV9bIc0KkXTczerhpAsoX5wbp3vzHJBEPn3_1bYiJiId6gn1d6rdyCS3wgEM0NgwK_/s1600/phil+younghusband+statement.png" /></a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Hi everyone, in lieu of the separation, I would like to thank you for all your support throughout our relationship. It was definitely a happy one, as much as we tried to make it work we would just like to request for all of you to support us in our choice and that we respect one another in keeping our personal lives to ourselves. It is a sensitive matter and I personally apologize for taking time to let everyone know about the situation. I am grateful for your support and we hope you continue to support both of us in our each of our endeavors. Neither of us regret the time we spent together, we enjoyed each others company and really made the most of it. There are no faults in this, it was not an issue of who did or didnt do something, it was a mutual decision and although it was difficult we just both felt that this would be the best thing to do given our circumstances. Although we have parted as a couple, we are thankful that we remain friends and we only wish the best for each other. Thank you very much for your support.</blockquote>

CHIKA: Angel Locsin & Phil Younghusband Confirming Breakup

angel locsin official statement regarding breakup with phil chika phil younghusband confirms breakup with angel CHIKA: Angel Locsin & Phil Younghusband Confirming Breakup

Angel Locsin and Phil Younghusband thank their fans for their support and confirm their break up in two separate posts in their social media...

MAG COVER: Danita Paner for FHM

9:02 AM Tukiyooo 0

danita paner fhm philippines november 2013 MAG COVER MAG COVER: Danita Paner for FHM

Danita goes all the way in November 2013 issue of FHM Magazine.

HOTTIE ALERT: Arnold Van Opstal of DLSU Green Archers

8:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90xh7CfDsmUWPvEM7PFIrruPoxEnYHQhLlIm8TA-eZoiPdpozMccXdhojXUMn0xWm638F4uQpbF4mpxwTqNlQcUek83igYvwgyJqOiBklER5oMr20iqVx0DqZjfXAl5GUsi_WoT7n9bR_/s1600/arnold+van+opstal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Arnold Van Opstal AVO of DLSU Green Archers [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90xh7CfDsmUWPvEM7PFIrruPoxEnYHQhLlIm8TA-eZoiPdpozMccXdhojXUMn0xWm638F4uQpbF4mpxwTqNlQcUek83igYvwgyJqOiBklER5oMr20iqVx0DqZjfXAl5GUsi_WoT7n9bR_/s1600/arnold+van+opstal.jpg" title="Arnold Van Opstal AVO of DLSU Green Archers [duchessofandrogyny.blogspot.com]" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arnold Van Opstal and his 'tears of joy'.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;">In my head, you fulfill my fantasies tonight, AVO!</span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Thanks GGV for featuring him tonight! hi hi</span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>

arnold van opstal Athlete AVO DLSU Green Archers GGV hottie alert HOTTIE ALERT: Arnold Van Opstal of DLSU Green Archers

Arnold Van Opstal and his 'tears of joy'. In my head, you fulfill my fantasies tonight, AVO! Thanks GGV for featuring him tonight! h...

Tenth Doctor Month: Quote Of The Day #27

8:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbR2f8YYOAuE6LhqDz34ApT_I4SNMnKUjKq9sUJX4efM8USCC_-5gZYogBBzwMtEkw8_8Slq4BLY2hJ_B8Bcw7bo_KfFePXs5PhS0KqRmMWJ1j7CGuIkSFayYkCotcWQjH8KI_ke-pgU/s1600/VOYAGE2_(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbR2f8YYOAuE6LhqDz34ApT_I4SNMnKUjKq9sUJX4efM8USCC_-5gZYogBBzwMtEkw8_8Slq4BLY2hJ_B8Bcw7bo_KfFePXs5PhS0KqRmMWJ1j7CGuIkSFayYkCotcWQjH8KI_ke-pgU/s640/VOYAGE2_(16).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></strong></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></strong></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The Doctor</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: Wait wait wait! Security Protocol One! D'you hear me? One! One! Okay, that gives me three questions. Three questions to save my life. Am I right?</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Heavenly Host</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: Information: Correct.</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The Doctor</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: No, that wasn't one of them. I didn't mean it. That's not fair. Can I start again?</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Heavenly Host</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: Information: No.</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The Doctor</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: No. No no no! That wasn't a question either. Blimey. One question left. One question left. So. You've been given orders to kill the survivors. But! Survivors must therefore be passengers or staff. But not me. I'm not a passenger, I'm not staff. Go on, scan me. No such bio records. No such person on board. I don't exist. Therefore you can't kill me. Therefore I'm a stowaway. And stowaways should be arrested and taken to the nearest figure of authority. And I reckon the nearest figure of authority is on Deck 31. Final question: Am I right?</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Heavenly Host</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: Information: Correct.</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;" /><strong style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">The Doctor</strong><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">: Brilliant. Take me to your leader. I've always wanted to say that.</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">Voyage Of The Damned (2007)</span></span></span>

David Tennant Doctor Who Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Tenth Doctor Month Tenth Doctor Quotes Tenth Doctor Month: Quote Of The Day #27

The Doctor : Wait wait wait! Security Protocol One! D'you hear me? One! One! Okay, that gives me three questions. Three questions to sav...

Putting October Chill Into Perspective

7:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

The couple of mornings with lows below 40 degrees (Friday and Saturday both dropping to 37) have brought the first suburban frosts and freezes and have brought us our coldest mornings since April. October does this -- we have had lows below 40 on 28 occasions since 2003.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54M5x_iiZsjjXDrSuoAig2c8dm_zIwOEfNCyTVwARPzRR2rXlqcQA4LmoDOBMDvjKuDhr1awQj63kM1pY_ftld5f2jmMaXoDe-jd0j_aNcw6s5F3x07ZTgV2-r4sZhOcxZDmOZe6oO9Xi/s1600/102613-LOW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54M5x_iiZsjjXDrSuoAig2c8dm_zIwOEfNCyTVwARPzRR2rXlqcQA4LmoDOBMDvjKuDhr1awQj63kM1pY_ftld5f2jmMaXoDe-jd0j_aNcw6s5F3x07ZTgV2-r4sZhOcxZDmOZe6oO9Xi/s1600/102613-LOW.jpg" /></a></div>The list on the left shows those October lows, excluding yesterday, that are below 40 degrees. With the exception of 2010, we've been here, done that, each...and every...October. Some years, like 2006, had it happen quite a bit more frequently while others had it happen once or twice.<br /><br />Getting into the 30's on a few occasions is not going to help determine a cold winter or a cold month. Heck, even frequent cold shots like October 2006's didn't fully drive the bus on the following winter, which featured a very warm first six weeks before the bottom dropped out finally on temperatures in late January. That said, monthly temperatures in October normally <i>do matter</i> on the whole.<br /><br /><a href="http://philadelphiaweather.blogspot.com/2013/10/do-october-temperatures-matter-for.html" target="_blank">You may recall our post from a couple of weeks ago</a> about this -- the warmer the temperature (or colder) for Philadelphia, typically the stronger the correlation in the following winter towards warmer or colder temperatures on the whole. In fact, if temperatures fall into the warmer or colder thirds, the correlation runs at around a 70 percent clip for the following winter.<br /><br />Temperatures this October will slide into the warmer third of what we have seen since 1940 -- perhaps near top 15 warmest since records were first kept in the 1870's. The historic tendency is warmth in October more often than not yields warmth in winter (and the same with cold).<br /><br />That said, it can (and does) get chilly occasionally, even in warm months in October, but a few colder mornings themselves don't an October make...nor also provide a true indication of what's to come.

climate October October weather Putting October Chill Into Perspective

The couple of mornings with lows below 40 degrees (Friday and Saturday both dropping to 37) have brought the first suburban frosts and freez...