When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stepped on to the stage in the western city of Eskisehir, few imagined he was about to drop an unprecedented diplomatic bombshell.
By announcing his intention to expel 10 ambassadors over their support for jailed businessman and activist Osman Kavala, Mr Erdogan threatened to inflict a devastating blow to Turkey’s fragile relationship with the West.
Declaring the diplomats persona non grata, or unwelcome persons, not only risks ties that Turkey had been seeking to repair but could also further damage the embattled economy.
The envoys represent seven of Ankara’s Nato allies, including the US, Germany and France, as well as EU members. Germany is Turkey’s largest market while the US is its third biggest. The two countries accounted for more than 15 per cent of Turkish exports between them last year.
The crisis began when the ambassadors issued a statement on October 18, calling for Mr Kavala’s release after four years’ imprisonment without being convicted of a crime.
His case has been widely criticised as a bid to shutdown free speech and lacking evidence.
Mr Kavala, 64, was acquitted last year of charges linked to nationwide anti-government protests in 2013 but the ruling was overturned and joined to charges relating to a 2016 coup attempt.
The European Court of Human Rights had called for his release in 2019 and the Council of Europe says it will start infringement proceedings against Turkey at the end of November if Mr Kavala is not released.
Following their message, the ambassadors were summoned to the foreign ministry for a dressing down. During a return flight from Africa the following day, Mr Erdogan hinted to journalists they could be kicked out.
While most observers put his comments down to rhetoric, it appears Mr Erdogan was sincere in his remarks. Over the next few days foreign ministry officials tried to roll back the president’s plan, according to the Anka news agency.
Then came Saturday’s unequivocal announcement.
“I gave the instruction to our foreign minister and said ‘You will immediately handle the persona non grata declaration of these 10 ambassadors,’” Mr Erdogan told a crowd of supporters in Eskisehir.
Yasar Yakis, a career diplomat who served as foreign minister in the early years of Mr Erdogan’s government, described the declaration as “an instruction that should not have been given”.
“They should leave this kind of work to the diplomats and determine how the issue is formulated,” he said.
Whether Turkey will proceed with the expulsions remains up in the air. Formal notices have not been served, according to most of the intended recipients. At Mr Erdogan's weekly Cabinet meeting on Monday, he said the ambassadors had taken a step back and would be more careful in their statements.
"Our government will not shy away from any further steps to show that we will never compromise our national sovereignty," said Fahrettin Altun, Turkey's communications director, on Twitter.
If they are removed, Ankara faces tit-for-tat responses from the 10 nations, which also include Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
“International relations are an arm wrestle,” said Mr Yakis. “Turkey is currently in no position to bend the wrists of these 10 countries. There is a possibility that Turkey will suffer more from this conflict.”
The crisis is likely to derail Mr Erdogan’s plans for a face-to-face meeting with US President Joe Biden at a G20 meeting in Rome next weekend.
It could also lead to tougher US sanctions over Turkey’s purchase of Russian missiles and hamper plans for it to buy new F-16 jets from Washington, according to Naim Baburoglu, a faculty member at Istanbul Aydin University.
The financial impact of cutting ties with some of the world’s largest economies will also damage Ankara’s efforts to attract foreign investment after the lira has gone through a series of record lows in recent weeks.
Inflation stands slightly under 20 per cent amid growing scepticism over the independence of the Central Bank in setting monetary policy.
“We shouldn’t have shot ourselves in the foot,” said Utku Cakirozer, an opposition member of parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“Turkey cannot tolerate new crises. It is necessary to evaluate whether this decision that will harm or benefit the national interests of our country.”
Turkey’s precarious economic situation and Mr Erdogan’s drop in the opinion polls have been suggested as the reason for his reaction to the ambassadors’ statement.
“The decision to deport the 10 ambassadors is an attempt to completely change the agenda, to forget about [price] hikes, costs, the economic crisis and unemployment,” Mr Cakirozer said.
“It’s a very dangerous game. Of the 10 countries, Turkey has the most important trading partners, we have allies. This triggers another economic and political crisis,” he added.
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
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Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Lexus LX700h specs
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Schedule for Asia Cup
Sept 15: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (Dubai)
Sept 16: Pakistan v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 17: Sri Lanka v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 18: India v Qualifier (Dubai)
Sept 19: India v Pakistan (Dubai)
Sept 20: Bangladesh v Afghanistan (Abu Dhabi) Super Four
Sept 21: Group A Winner v Group B Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 21: Group B Winner v Group A Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 23: Group A Winner v Group A Runner-up (Dubai)
Sept 23: Group B Winner v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 25: Group A Winner v Group B Winner (Dubai)
Sept 26: Group A Runner-up v Group B Runner-up (Abu Dhabi)
Sept 28: Final (Dubai)
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
The five pillars of Islam
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
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Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates
October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)
October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)
November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)
November 28-30: Dubai International Rally
January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)
March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)
April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
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- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
