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The French National Assembly has adopted a draft bill that would impose jail time and fines on anyone who denies the Armenian genocide. Erdogan’s government withdraws its ambassador in Paris and accuses France of genocide. Military cooperation is suspended and an economic boycott is a possibility. Istanbul’s Armenians and the Armenian Patriarchate are cool at the French move. Turkey’s entry into the European Union gets a bit harder.

The church of Aghia Sophia in Nicaea (Izmit), in which the 787 Council was held, was used as a museum. A controversial decision by the Directorate General of Religious Affairs transforms it into a Muslim place of worship. Erdogan' contents Islamic sectors of society.

The earthquake shook the area of Van in the south east of the country, one of the most under-developed. Immediate offers of international aid, including that of Israel. Ankara declines, but without using harsh tones.

The travels in the countries of the Middle East and of the Arab spring, along with tensions with Israel, are part of the renovation of Turkish politics, which is abandoning the Kemalist ideology for a "neo-Ottoman" vision. Erdogan follows the advice of Barack Obama: to make Turkey the leading country of the Islamic world. Friction with Israel and Syria, but also with Iran.

For the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople, the return of properties seized by the Turkish government is an act of justice and reparation for the illegal acts of the past. He has asked for further steps and Erdogan replied to him: This is just the beginning. Imminent reopening of the Theological School of Halki, closed by Ankara in 1971.

A decree published last night for the return of thousands of properties seized in '36, just hours before an Iftar of the Prime Minister with representatives of religious minorities. The beneficiaries are Greek-orthodox Christians, Armenians, Jews. Roman Catholics do not fall within the recognized minorities. The Prime Minister’s hopes: end to era of discrimination.

The ecumenical patriarch celebrates the liturgy on Mount Sümela, which was a dynamic Christian community until 1923. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan delivers a message on freedom of thought and religion. Bartholomew calls for the return of properties seized from religious minorities.

The Turkish premier responds to the protest resignation of military leaders with new appointments, supported by the head of state Gul, emboldened by election victory two months ago. But the choices reveal a compromise. The new chief of staff accused of war crimes in the Kurdish provinces.

Domestic and international factors are behind the Turkish leader’s decision to suspend cooperation with the European Union during the Cypriot presidency. Ankara wants to use its role as a powerful played in an energy-rich region.

Guido Westerwelle’s visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate school, closed for 40 years, is seen as a request to the Turkish government to move from words to deeds, making concrete its proclamations on human rights and religious freedom.

In tomorrow’s elections, parties are targeting the number of seats needed to change the constitution (367 and 330). The country’s Nationalist and Republican parties are trying to prevent Erdogan’s AKP from gaining an absolute majority. Both conservative parties want to stop the latter from reaching the necessary quorum that would allow it to call a constitutional referendum without the support of other parties.

It will be the most important election in modern Turkish history. Favourite: Tayyip Erdogan's AKP party which aims to reap the fruits of the changes created in the country. Polls forecast the Kemalists will be separated by about 20 percentage points. Military sees power greatly reduced.