The diversified nature of the rioters, and the beginning of the use of violence by these groups, as seen by their destruction of public and private property and the killing of members of the HÜDA PAR, raised questions about the protests.

Turkey takes a new historic opportunity to settle the Kurdish question after two previous initiatives failed in 2005 and 2009. To this end, the “2013 Reconciliation Process” aims to eradicate the armed-conflict and violence and sets the ground for dialogue, politics, peace and calm for a solution. The process has been launched after the talks between the National Intelligence Organization of Turkey (MIT) Director, Hakan Fidan, and the leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Abdullah Öcalan, who has been confined to the İmralı Island. It is of historic and vital importance for Turkey’s transformation into a global actor, and introduces a step-by-step strategical road map that needs to be followed very carefully.

Turkey's revamped structural transformation program has finally been unveiled. This constitutes a historic milestone as the document signifies a change in the path of the development narrative followed over the course of the last decade.

The riots during the first week of October did not only hurt the reconciliation process, it may also endanger public support for the process itself.

If street violence undermines the nation's security and stability, the country might end up short of a stable environment to build a more democratic political system.

U.S. officials are eager to point their fingers at Turkey and blame Ankara for its inaction in the crisis in Kobani.

The HDP's call for supporters to rally on the streets raises serious doubts regarding its commitment to the reconciliation process.

Turkey is going through challenging times from a number of angles, but fortunately, there is sufficient political and administrative capacity as well as crisis management experience to overcome these challenges.