World press on Turkey's president and economic situation in Russia (December 20, 2014)

Hürriyet Daily News published an article by Murat Yetkin headlined "Erdoğan: Best buddy of Putin and ally of Obama?" devoted to Turkish president and his role in the world's politics.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is known as one of the toughest leaders on earth calls, him a “tough man.” He boycotts the official United Nations dinner hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, which had never happened before, and Obama calls him a “strategic partner.” He asks German leader Angela Merkel to let Turkey join the European Union for the good in common and then says he is not taking the EU’s perspective into consideration while taking strategic steps. He ignored an EU reaction over gas cooperation with Russia, weakening the EU (and the U.S.) sanctions on Moscow because of Ukraine. He claims to be the voice of the streets of the Muslim world, but Ankara does not have very much in common with the current major problems (like Syria, Iraq) with major Muslim countries, like Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia these days," the article begins.

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been playing his own power game in regional politics, resulting in him not being much bound to the traditional Turkish foreign policy axis in parallel with the West, in general," the author writes.

"On the political scene, Turkey has wanted to be a member of the EU for more than half a century now. It adapted its Constitution according to the European legislation about 10 years ago. Yet, when it comes to the practice on issues like media freedom, court independence, separation of powers and checks-and-balances, the current Turkish attitude rather leans to that of Russia, with an Islamic rhetorical flavor," the article reads.

"In this complicated picture, the “West,” knowing that it cannot risk its strategic and military interests with Turkey, is playing its own game with Russia to minimize risks if the tension between the West and Russia escalates further. It is another matter to ask how long this game could be sustained," the author concludes.

 

Bloomberg View published an article by Leonid Bershidzky entitled "Putin Isn't Worried. You Should Be" devoted to the press conference the Russian president has recently held.

According to the author, Putin's remarks show why Western leaders have found it impossible to talk reasonably with Putin. "He appears so out of touch he could have been from another planet. The U.S. grabbing Texas from Mexico? An invasion of Siberia by covetous Westerners? Seriously? It's useless to point out to him that Texas' secession from Mexico in 1836 resulted from a revolution, not a land grab, and ended in Texas setting itself up as an independent state for the next ten years; it makes no sense to tell him the story of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright complaining about the unfairness of resource distribution is apocryphal, a Russian invention," the article reads.

"In a certain sense, Putin is still living in a 19th century of his own making: his comments on Ukraine, Russian history, geopolitics or the economy range from mildly untrue to fantastical. So how can foreign interlocutors expect to hold a reasonable conversation with the man?" the article reads

"In truth, there's very little evidence that Putin is interested in a reasonable conversation with his Western counterparts. He has become entirely consistent in offering the same emotional narrative to all audiences; his rhetoric is a bizarre kind of political shiatsu that only hits the right spots when the listener is sympathetic from the start. If it doesn't work with someone, Putin doesn't care," the author believes.

 

Süddeutsche Zeitung published an article headlined "Sieg des Kühlschranks über den Fernseher" ("The victory of the fridge over the TV set") devoted to the unfolding economic crisis in Russia.

 

"Vladimir Putin still seems to control the situation in Russia (...)  According to the poll conducted by the Associated Press in late November 80 percent of the Russians support the president's policies," the article reads.

 

However, according to Julian Hans, the author of the article, Russians are noticing that the economic situation in the country is getting worse. Moreover, the difference between the pompous statements of the politicians and reality is becoming more and more striking.

 

The market has already realized this. Lack of trust as well as falling oil prices and western sanctions are the main reasons for capital outflow, Hans stresses.

 

According to the author, the recent press conference has shown that Putin has no strategy, no plan for how to overcome the beginning crisis. It's possible that he will remain in power for several years, but the collapsing economy is undermining his regime, the author believes.

 

The Russian economy also became the main topic of an article published by Focus. "The economic situation in Russia has been changing for the worse ever since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis," the article reads.

 

"The Russian rouble has lost 50 percent of its value, the currency resources of the state are decreasing and the key banking rate has been raised dramatically so that it has reached 17 percent," the article reads.

 

"Still, not all Russians are being targeted by the crisis," the author writes. According to him, President Putin is doing his best to support large companies run by major tycoons, leaving ordinary Russians to the mercy of fate.

 

The president does not care about the living standards in the country, the increasing inflation and deficite. He is going to continue to back main oligarchs at the expense of the population, the author believes.