Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin to discuss “trade and economic cooperation,” the Kremlin said Friday, as the Turkish lira tumbled and Donald Trump said he would ramp up tarriffs against Ankara.

The statement will fuel speculation that Erdoğan is moving closer to Russia as relations worsen between Turkey and the United States, even though both countries are NATO members.

“A telephone conversation took place between Vladimir Putin and the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” the Kremlin statement said. “The state and prospects of further development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed.”

The two made a “positive assessment”, the statement added, “of the course of implementation of joint strategic projects, primarily in the energy sector.”

Relations between Ankara and Washington have been tense since the detention in Turkey of U.S. evangelical pastor Andrew Brunson on terrorism charges. The incident led the U.S. to apply sanctions on two of Erdogan’s ministers and threaten Turkey with restrictions on trade.

Earlier on Friday, the Turkish lira collapsed to a record low against the dollar, prompting Erdoğan to denounce an “economic war” against his country. Erdoğan also called on citizens to sell their savings in euros and dollars and buy lira.

Original Article
Source: politico.eu
Author: Maïa de La Baume

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