President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Kahramanmaraş after a series of high-magnitude earthquakes that shook 10 provinces and said that all the country’s resources have been mobilized, calling for unity.
Speaking to reporters, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan updated the latest death toll to 8,574. He said another 49,133 people were injured and a total of 6,444 buildings collapsed in the earthquake.
Türkiye has taken action with all its institutions since Monday’s deadly quakes, the president added, underlining that all resources have been mobilized.
“Our citizens should not worry, we will never allow them to stay on the street,” he said and highlighted that earthquake victims can stay in contracted hotels in Antalya, Alanya and Mersin provinces.
Erdoğan visited the epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, Kahramanmaraş, and will then continue to Hatay province.
The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, struck 10 provinces and affected more than 13 million people.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye is ready to support the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia for regional peace if requested, after a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Istanbul on Friday.
“Türkiye is ready to provide all kinds of support for the peace and stability of our region and to make the necessary contribution if requested by the parties,” Erdoğan said in a joint news conference.
Erdoğan added: “We hope that the dialogue process with Serbia will result in a way that ensures the region’s lasting peace and stability.”
Türkiye continued joint efforts to ensure that Kosovo reaches the position it deserves in the international arena, Erdoğan said, adding: “In this regard, we support Kosovo’s vision to join NATO, the Council of Europe, and the EU.”
The president also said he asked Kurti to increase cooperation with Türkiye against the activities of the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) – the group behind the 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye – in Kosovo.
Meeting at the Vahdettin Mansion, Erdoğan and Kurti reviewed various aspects of Türkiye-Kosovo relations and the potential steps that would further enhance the bilateral cooperation.
Views on regional and international matters, regarding the Balkans in particular, were on the agenda of the two leaders.
Türkiye recognized Kosovo on Feb. 18, 2008, the very first day following the declaration of independence.
The Balkans is a priority for Türkiye, not only for political, economic and geographical reasons but also for its historical, cultural and human ties with the region.
The relations between Kosovo and Türkiye have been strong due to a vibrant Turkish population in Kosovo and a Kosovar community in Türkiye.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with most U.N. member states, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Türkiye, recognizing it as a separate autonomous country. Serbia, however, continues to claim Kosovo as its territory
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his British counterpart Ben Wallace discussed bilateral, regional defense and security developments and cooperation on Monday.
The defense minister met with the U.K.’s secretary of defense in London for discussions on security.
The Greek opposition accused the government of “catastrophic failure” in implementing proper foreign policies to prevent the United States from selling F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye.
After the U.S. State Department announced its decision on the potential sale of 40 jets and 79 modernization kits for tiered review in Congress, the leftist Syriza party said that the development highlighted the policy failure of being Washington’s “faithful and devoted ally”, the Efsyn news outlet reported on Sunday.
“The government’s dangerous foreign policy has increased adverse consequences for Greek interests,” it added.
The far-right Elliniki Lisi was also harsh in its criticism of Mitsotakis’ conservative Nea Dimokratia (ND) government, which it accused of abandoning the Greek diaspora in the U.S. alone in its efforts to block the arms sale to Ankara.
The U.S. State Department sent Congress its decision on the potential sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye for tiered review, sources told Anadolu Agency on Friday.
The notification on the sale of new F-16 jets and modernization kits has been conveyed to the chairpersons and ranking members of relevant committees in the House of Representatives and Senate, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Akar said in late December that Ankara expected “positive and concrete steps” from the U.S. regarding the fighter jets sale that Türkiye requested in October 2021.
Türkiye is ready to undertake the role of a mediator between Russia and Ukraine to facilitate permanent peace between the two countries, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Monday.
According to the Presidential Communications Directorate, Erdoğan told Putin that Ankara is ready for moderation and mediation between the two warring neighbors for permanent peace.
The two leaders confirmed cooperation, with priorities including Russian gas supplies and the creation of a regional gas hub in Türkiye, the Kremlin said.
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“The exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine continued,” the statement said.
“Vladimir Putin drew attention to the destructive line of the Kyiv regime, which relies on the intensification of hostilities with the support of Western sponsors, increasing the volume of transferred weapons and military equipment,” the Kremlin said in its readout of the call.
“Among the priorities is cooperation in the energy sector, including the supply of Russian natural gas and the creation of a regional gas hub in Turkey,” the Kremlin said.
They also discussed the normalization of Turkish-Syrian relations, it said.
Türkiye, internationally praised for its unique mediator role between Ukraine and Russia, has repeatedly called on Kyiv and Moscow to end the war through negotiations.
Most recently, Türkiye enabled a prisoner swap between the warring countries. Also, Turkish mediation proved vital in facilitating the signing of a deal between Türkiye, the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul to reopen certain Ukrainian ports to release grain that had been stuck for months because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war – a development that has been crucial in responding to a growing global food crisis.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Ankara has offered to mediate between the two sides and host peace talks, underlining its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. While Ankara has opposed international sanctions designed to isolate Moscow, it also closed its straits to prevent some Russian vessels from crossing through them.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated the largest library complex in Istanbul on Friday, saying that it would serve as a cultural center for book lovers.
“The Rami Barracks, which we have renovated as a library, has an important place in our country’s history in the past 200 years,” the president said at the inauguration ceremony.
Dating back to the middle of the eighth century, the Rami Barracks is revived as the Rami Library after restoration, renovation and rebuilding works that lasted for around four years. The project for converting the Rami Barracks, which was registered as “cultural property” in 1972, into a national public library was announced by President Erdoğan in June 2018 during a fast-breaking dinner in the capital Ankara.
The Rami Library, which will be the largest library in Istanbul with a history of more than 250 years, has been designed as a large campus with individual and group reading halls, activity areas, workshop spaces and a disability center prepared for people with disabilities. It will also serve as a space for seminars, exhibitions and conversations.
The campus is set to appeal to everyone from children to young people, from university students to academicians, and will serve readers and researchers around the clock, with the library set to be open 24/7.
It is already possible to see the new look of the former barracks from the air, which have been transformed into a library.
Student Muhammet Talha Solgun, who said he plans on coming to the Rami Library with friends, noted, “My school is right across from the library.”
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According to the information obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Rami Barracks were built in the period of Sultan Mustafa III (1757-1774) and renovated and expanded by Sultan Mahmud II between 1828 and 1829. The Barracks were used as Sultan Abdülmecid’s military headquarters during the Crimean War and gained their last form during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II.
They continued to serve the army during the first years of the republic and ended its military function in the 1960s. Later on, the building, which was transferred to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) in the 1980s, was used as a parking lot, football and sports field, and food warehouse.
As of 2021, data published by Turkish Statistical Institute (Turkstat) shows the number of libraries operating in Türkiye increased by 1.7% compared to 2020 and reached 34,555, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported. This number kept increasing over time since Turkstat’s report for 2017 revealed the country had around 29,000 libraries across the nation at the time.
In addition to the Presidential Library, which covers 125,000 square meters (1.35 million square feet) and has a seating capacity of approximately 5,500 people, some 612 university libraries, 1,252 public and 32,690 other libraries affiliated with formal and nonformal education institutions operate throughout the country.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday revised upward the increase in wages for active and retired civil servants to 30% for the first half of 2023.
Erdoğan on Tuesday announced that the civil servants’ pay increase would be 25% for the first six months of this year.
“We are giving the good news to our civil servants and all pensioners that the salary increases as of January 2023 will be applied as 30%,” Erdoğan told a parliamentary meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The president also said that the lowest pension for retired Turks would be TL 5,500 ($293.45) in 2023, up from TL 3,500.
The government tripled the minimum wage in the past year, raised state salaries and hiked pensions for millions to ease the pressure on households stemming mostly from soaring inflation.
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The minimum wage has been increased by 55% for 2023 and Erdoğan also announced a measure that would allow more than 2 million people to retire early. He said the minimum wage may be hiked again throughout the year if necessary.
Erdoğan on Wednesday also said the state’s minimum wage support extended to businesses was revised to TL 400, up from TL 250 that he announced in late December.
“We had increased the minimum wage support amount from TL 100 to TL 250. Now I would like to share the decision to increase the minimum wage support to TL 400 for our small businesses to cope with this burden,” he said.
Annual consumer price inflation in Türkiye fell sharply to 64.27% in December from the 84.39% reported in November. The decline was driven mainly by the favorable so-called base effect and marked a second straight fall after inflation hit a 24-year high of 85.5% in October.
Erdoğan last month said inflation would go “upside down” in the coming months and pledged to free Türkiye from the cost-of-living “scourge” in 2023.
The government last year introduced several relief measures to help cushion the fallout from inflation, including a cap on rent increases, reduced taxes on utility bills and the unveiling of a major housing project for low-income families.
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Public finances are strong compared to Türkiye’s emerging market peers, leaving plenty of room for stimulus. The 2023 budget includes TL 4.47 trillion ($239 billion) in spending and sees a deficit of about 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) for this year and next.
As he heads to a race for a new term in office, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan weighed in on the ongoing debate for a possible change in the date of presidential elections.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday, the president said whatever the public debate is, it will certainly be on the presidency’s agenda.
“We are steered by what the public talks about,” he said, but they would wait until “the water is still,” he said, referring to a saying about ideas that cannot be implemented before a proper argument, debate.
The next presidential and parliamentary elections in Türkiye are expected to be held in June 2023. The AK Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are partners under the People’s Alliance, with Erdoğan serving as the alliance’s candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.
Snap polls have been the main agenda for opposition parties, which created the “table for six” alliance.
Earlier this week, AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik stated that the party was considering a “slight change” on the election date scheduled for mid-June. When asked about snap elections during a press conference, Çelik said: “Since this date (initial date for elections) corresponds with the summer holiday season when people are traveling, we are evaluating bringing the date slightly forward.” “This change of date will not amount to snap elections… There’s no final decision from the higher board of the party yet, we are still evaluating the circumstances,” Çelik added.
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The opposition insists on having elections before the implementation of the election and political party law on April 6, 2022, which, under the Constitution, could apply to the next scheduled election, one year after it came into effect. The law reforms elections by increasing the vote threshold for parties by having their lawmakers directly elected into Parliament, something that would affect smaller parties.
Currently, there are two possibilities for elections in case of a change in the June election date, including the president’s dissolution of Parliament or 360 lawmakers voting for elections.
Erdoğan, who carried the ruling AK Party to victory more than two decades ago and led successive wins since then, appears the clear favorite in some pre-election surveys, ahead of the CHP, the strongest rival of the AK Party, which defeated the main opposition easily in all general elections since early 2000s. The 2023 elections, however, might be the first time with two rounds as it will be the first since the country switched to a presidential system of government. A two-round election may result in three possibilities according to experts: The People’s Alliance securing the parliamentary majority, the opposition’s “table for six” securing it, or a failure of both sides to secure the majority for proper governance. Though the “table for six” shied away from announcing a jointly endorsed candidate so far, they are like-minded in their commitment to remove the system of presidential government if they come to power
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s support for Montenegro’s European Union accession process.
“We sincerely encourage and support the full accession of Montenegro, our NATO ally, to the EU,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said at a news conference with his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic in Istanbul.
Montenegro applied for EU membership in 2008 and was granted candidate status in December 2010. Accession negotiations started in June 2012.
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Erdoğan said Türkiye paid particular attention to the maintenance of stability in southeastern Europe and the region’s economic development, adding that Montenegro, as an “important part” of the Balkans and Europe, makes important contributions to peace and stability.
“Relations between Türkiye and Montenegro are at the highest level,” Erdoğan stressed, adding that the two countries share a common history and culture, along with strong people-to-people and kinship ties.
The president added that the two countries aim to reach a bilateral trade volume of $250 million.
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“The total of Turkish investments in Montenegro exceeded $67 million. The number of Turkish investor companies is 3,800. This is of course a very important step,” Erdoğan said.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has carried out more than 400 projects and activities in Montenegro with a total value of more than 20 million euros ($21.3 million), he added.
He underlined the need for the two countries to use their economic potential.
Hailing Erdoğan for his mediation efforts between Russia and Ukraine since the war erupted between them in February, Djukanovic said, “I have great respect for Mr. Erdoğan for his contributions.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the credentials of Israel’s new envoy to Türkiye Irit Lillian on Tuesday, marking the first appointment by Tel Aviv since 2018.
The development comes after the two countries normalize ties after four years of tensions. Erdoğan welcomed the Israeli Ambassador at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara. Türkiye and Israel began improving relations with high-level visits this year including Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Ankara. They agreed to appoint ambassadors mutually in August. (Watch Video Here)
After Israeli Prime Minister-designate, Benjamin Netanyahu won elections last month, he and Erdoğan agreed to “work together to create a new era in relations” on a basis of respect for mutual interests.
Lillian, Israeli’s chargé d’affaires in Ankara since January 2021, became an ambassador after presenting his letter of confidence to Erdoğan.
Once close regional allies, relations between Israel and Türkiye have been strained for more than a decade, with Ankara having expelled Israel’s ambassador following a 2010 Israeli raid on an aid ship to Gaza, which killed 10 Turkish citizens. (Watch Video Here)
Diplomatic relations were restored in 2016, but two years later Türkiye recalled its ambassador from Israel and expelled the Israeli envoy when Israeli forces killed several Palestinians who had taken part in protests in the Gaza Strip.
Already facing criticism of the policy before taking office, Netanyahu has vowed to govern for all Israelis even as he will head one of the most right-wing governments in the country’s history.
Israeli president looks forward to Turkish envoy’s term Meanwhile, the Israeli president said he is “looking forward to” receiving the credentials of the Turkish ambassador soon.
“So moving to hear HaTikvah at the Presidential Complex in Ankara again, as Ambassador Irit Lillian presented her credentials to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today,” Isaac Herzog said on Twitter. (Watch Video Here)
“Looking forward to receiving the Turkish ambassador’s credentials soon. A big step forward for Israel-Türkiye relations,” he added.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Fatih drilling vessel discovered an additional 58 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas reserves at a depth of 3,023 meters at Çaycuma 1 block off the Black Sea.
Speaking after the cabinet meeting of the year in the capital Ankara on Monday, the President said that the new discovery would significantly contribute to the country’s energy independence. (Watch Video Here)
He noted that Türkiye’s natural gas reserves in the Black Sea totals 710 bcm, with a market value of $1 trillion.
“Türkiye’s ultimate goal is to declare energy independence from foreign oil and natural gas as soon as possible,” the President said. He continued by saying that the new discovery would further extend to nearby fields and that Türkiye would soon embark upon new drilling activities.
“We are determined to ensure that Türkiye becomes the center of energy in the Caspian and Mediterranean Sea regions, and the Middle East,” he said, (Watch Video Here) adding that the country would also be a link between the East and the West with its energy bridges.
Ankara aims to start pumping the gas to the national grid in 2023, the centennial of the founding of modern Türkiye, with sustained plateau production starting in 2027-2028.
Türkiye currently has two seismic research ships, the Oruç Reis and the Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa, and three drillships: Fatih, Kanuni and Yavuz operating. The three drilling vessels are expected to soon join hands and operate simultaneously in the Black Sea to expedite tasks of utilizing the natural gas discovered in the region. (Watch Video Here)
In 2022, the country drilled 94 exploration wells and 56 production wells. In 2023, according to previous statements from the Energy Minister, the country will have a total of 207 wells with 134 exploration and 73 production centers.
Stepping up with energy infrastructure investments, Türkiye’s future energy roadmap includes diversifying the sources as well as benefiting from its own reserves in the Black Sea.
According to plans, Türkiye wants to decrease foreign dependency on energy, which is 71% as of 2021, to under 50% in the next 10 years and to 13% in 2053. (Watch Video Here)
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Saudi Arabia’s Consultative Council Chairperson Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh in Ankara, the presidential office announced Monday.
Erdoğan and Al ash-Sheikh held a meeting closed to the press, the president’s office said, giving no further information about their talk. (Watch Video Here)
Türkiye’s Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop also accompanied the two after sitting for a one-on-one meeting with Al ash-Sheikh himself earlier in the day.
Speaking to reporters after their meeting, as well as talks between Turkish and Saudi committees, Şentop emphasized the growing collaboration between his country and the Gulf nation.
“The close cooperation (Watch Video Here) between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia across the Middle East and Northern Africa is greatly beneficial for our region,” Şentop contended. “Mutual visits and talks help strengthen bilateral relations and enhance collaboration while political meetings work to bolster economic and commercial ties.”
He went on to argue that Riyadh’s candidacy to host the World Expo 2030 was a “significant step” for the whole region and reiterated Türkiye’s support of the country’s bid.
The Turkish diplomat emphasized the importance Ankara lends to the security and stability of all Gulf nations, saying: “We hope a positive atmosphere reigns in the entire region through joint efforts. Therefore, we attach great importance to regional economic integration and the development of infrastructure in the area.” (Watch Video Here)
He stressed that close cooperation between the two countries across “a vast area stretching from Palestine to Yemen, Libya to Syria” was thus “vital” for the entire region.
The parliamentary speaker also remarked on the international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and echoed Erdoğan’s call to the international community at the U.N. General Assembly for the recognition of the island nation. “It’s important to increase contact with Turkish Cypriots who have been subjected to unjust isolation and embargos for years,” he said.
He highlighted Türkiye’s decadeslong war on terrorist organizations, noting how attacks from northern Syria and Iraq “still continue.” (Watch Video Here)
“We of course completely respect the territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria,” Şentop said. “Our only trouble is to foil terrorist attacks from these countries due to internal instability and prevent western plots to change the borders of the region’s countries by, again, stoking that instability for their own imperialist interests,” he concluded.
Al ash-Sheikh’s visit is the latest in a flurry of diplomacy traffic Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have been enjoying recently as they seek to mend a nearly decade of broken ties.
Following the 2011 Arab Spring, ideological differences and rival foreign policy objectives directed Ankara and Riyadh in different directions, making them fierce regional rivals. (Watch Video Here)
Türkiye’s support for popular movements linked to the Muslim Brotherhood initially spurred the break with Arab regimes that saw the brotherhood’s political vision as a threat. During the process, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia supported opposite sides in many regional conflicts.
Bilateral relations, however, took an especially rough dive in 2018 after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents at the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. Türkiye infuriated the Saudis by pressing ahead with an investigation into the murder of the columnist. Erdoğan said the “highest levels” of the Saudi government ordered the killing.
Saudi Arabia responded by unofficially putting pressure on Türkiye’s economy through a boycott of (Watch Video Here) Turkish imports.
But trade between the two has been gradually improving; Ankara and Riyadh have been striving to repair ties and enhance political, military, and economic relations in all respects. Their efforts contributed to a boom in bilateral trade as Türkiye’s exports to the country jumped by 180% in 2022.
Over the past year, Ankara has embarked on a diplomatic push to reset relations with the Gulf nation, with Erdoğan paying a visit to the kingdom in April. His trip marked the first high-level visit in years, which the Turkish leader said would “herald a new era” in their bilateral ties and “demonstrate our common will to enhance ties on the basis of mutual respect and trust.” (Watch Video Here)
Erdoğan’s visit was followed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MBS) trip to Türkiye in June as part of efforts to thaw the ice and advance the normalization process.
Most recently, the two leaders shook hands at a reception held before the World Cup opening ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on Nov. 20.
The Black Sea grain agreement struck between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul earlier this year was thanks to Türkiye’s role as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“While, unfortunately, the West has only made provocations and failed to make efforts to be a mediator in the Ukraine-Russia war, we assumed this mediator role in 2022, and we have begun operating the Black Sea grain corridor,” said Erdoğan at an event with youths in the eastern Erzurum province on late Sunday. (Watch Video Here)
He informed that under the landmark deal, Europe received about 44% of grain exported from Ukraine while Türkiye received 16% and African countries 14%.
Citing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to send grain and fertilizers to the least-developed and developing countries, especially in Africa, Erdoğan said his country would make sure flour made from Russian grain is sent together with Russia and the U.N. to African countries in need.
In July, Türkiye, the U.N., Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. (Watch Video Here) A Joint Coordination Centre with officials from the three countries and the U.N. was set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.
The first ship carrying grain departed on Aug. 1 from the Ukrainian port of Odessa under the historic deal, which staved off worsening a global food crisis.
The Turkish president also said that the export of fertilizers is a “more intense part of the job” as he affirmed taking steps with Russia on the issue.
Earlier this month, Erdoğan revealed he would speak to his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts to address the ongoing conflict and efforts to strengthen the grain deal, which was extended by another four months in mid-November, thanks to Erdoğan and Ankara’s mediation efforts. (Watch Video Here)
Türkiye, internationally praised for its unique mediator role between Ukraine and Russia, has repeatedly called on Kyiv and Moscow to end the war through negotiations.
“The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine will be resolved through diplomacy, not through fighting,” Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu had said in late November. (Watch Video Here)
Referring to the high-level tripartite meeting Türkiye, Ukraine and Russia held at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum earlier this year, Çavuşoğlu argued that there were “new realities in new conditions” compared to March. “It has become more complex. It is not that easy, but we should not lose hope,” he noted.
He stressed Türkiye’s policy of balance on the ongoing war has been “highly useful” and that Erdoğan was the “only leader in NATO able to meet equally” with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts.
Black Sea gas The president also remarked on the natural gas reserve discovered in the Black Sea. “It is one of the most significant developments this year,” Erdoğan said and declared Türkiye will use the 540 billion cubic meters of the said natural gas “during the first quarter (Watch Video Here) of 2023 at our homes.”
In 2020, Türkiye found 540 billion cubic meters (bcm) (19 trillion cubic feet) of natural gas in its northern territorial waters. Türkiye’s ships, Fatih, Yavuz and Kanuni, continue drilling operations in the Black Sea.
Ankara and Moscow have also been floating the idea of setting up a gas hub in Türkiye, with work and discussions reportedly underway. At the same time, a decision is expected to be made in 2023.
‘Defensive’ leaps Erdoğan said the country is also making “serious developments” in the defense industry. (Watch Video Here)
“Türkiye has made such a daring move in the defense industry and with this move, all eyes turned to Türkiye from the entire West, including the United States, all of them; they even want to buy this technology (from Türkiye),” he said.
“Again, next year (in 2023), mass production of our combat uncrewed fighter aircraft Kızılelma will begin, and we will be rolling out our national combat aircraft from the hangar,” the president revealed.
Earlier last week, Turkish defense firm Baykar conducted the maiden flight of its uncrewed aerial combat vehicle Kızılelma. (Watch Video Here)
Featuring a low radar signature thanks to its design, the Kızılelma will be able to perform the most challenging missions. It will also be capable of flying with a payload of up to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds), equipped with Turkish-made munitions and a high situational awareness with the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed domestically.
Regardless of who the terrorists collude with, Türkiye is determined to continue its strategy to root out terrorism at its source, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Friday at the launching ceremony of the third MILGEM Ada-class corvette built for Pakistan by Türkiye at the Istanbul Shipyard.
“No matter who terrorists collude with, Türkiye will always hold them accountable for every drop of blood they shed,” Erdoğan said at the ceremony. “No one can teach lessons to Türkiye, which is the only NATO ally that fought Daesh hand to hand and was victorious,” he continued, referring to the cross-border anti-terror operations in northern areas of Iraq and Syria, near the Turkish border.
During the event, Erdoğan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif jointly inaugurated the third of four MILGEM corvette ships manufactured by Türkiye for the Pakistan Navy. The MILGEM (National Ship) marine platform project is a Turkish warship program that aims to develop multipurpose corvettes and frigates that can be deployed in a range of missions.
Erdoğan said Pakistan has always been highly respected by the Turkish people and that the ship-building projects are among the important pillars of bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in the field of the defense industry.
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Early on Sunday, Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword, a cross-border aerial campaign against the terror group YPG/PKK, which has illegal hideouts across the Iraqi and Syrian borders where they plan and sometimes execute attacks on Turkish soil.
Turkish officials underscored that the operation is in line with international law and the nation’s right of self-defense under United Nations resolutions.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the terror group’s Syrian offshoot.
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Carlo Ancelotti’s team successfully added to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, and their triumph meant European teams have won the past 10 editions of the tournament.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez with an official ceremony at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara on Wednesday.
The leaders will hold one-on-one talks, to be followed by a joint news conference.
Erdoğan and Bermudez will exchange views on Türkiye-Cuba relations and potential steps aimed at improving the cooperation between the two countries, according to the Turkish presidency.
They will also exchange views on regional and global issues, Latin America and the Caribbean in particular.
The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Cuba.
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Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Cuba were established in 1952. Türkiye opened its first embassy in the Caribbean in Havana in 1979.
Erdoğan paid a visit to Cuba on Feb. 10-11, 2015. This was the first presidential visit from Türkiye to Cuba and was a milestone for the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Ahead of his meeting with Erdoğan, Bermudez paid his respects to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, at his mausoleum.
“The Cuban delegation visits this place to pay heartfelt tribute and homage to the founding father of the modern Turkish nation, Kemal Atatürk, whom the commander in chief, Fidel Castor Ruz describes as a source of inspiration for the Cuban Republic,” he wrote on the memorial book at Anıtkabir.
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This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police, in a terse Whatsapp message on Sunday.
At talks to be held in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, the bilateral relations will be reviewed with all aspects and necessary steps in order to enhance the cooperation between the two countries will be discussed.
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Within the scope of the visit, which corresponds to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Cuba, it is also envisaged to exchange views on regional and global issues, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as bilateral relations.
Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Cuba were established in 1952. Türkiye opened its first Embassy in the Caribbean in Havana in 1979.
Erdoğan paid a visit to Cuba on 10-11 February 2015. This was the first presidential visit from Türkiye to Cuba and was a milestone for the bilateral relations between the two countries
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The police said the 250kg bomb was discovered on Tuesday by a contractor working on the third crossing over the River Yare and exploded as workers attempted to diffuse it
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday signaled a ground operation in northern Iraq and northern Syria to eliminate the terrorist threat, adding that Türkiye will not remain silent against terrorism.
“First of all, this operation in northern Iraq and northern Syria is not an operation that was carried out with random thoughts by saying ‘who would say what?’ or ‘how would that happen?’
“As we’ve said before if someone disturbs our country and lands, we will make them pay the price. So, there are terrorist organizations in our south that are planning many attacks or that carry out such attacks and pose a threat (to Türkiye),” Erdoğan told reporters on the presidential plane returning from his Qatar trip.
Erdoğan’s remarks came after Türkiye launched early Sunday Operation Claw-Sword, a cross-border aerial campaign against the terrorist group PKK and its Syrian branch YPG, which has illegal hideouts across the Iraqi and Syrian borders where they plan attacks on Turkish soil.
“This is not limited to just an air operation,” Erdoğan stressed, adding that the relevant units will do their consultations and take steps accordingly.
Türkiye’s air operation followed last Sunday’s terrorist attack on Istanbul’s crowded Istiklal Street that killed at least six people and left 81 injured.
The Defense Ministry said the operation was carried out in line with the right of self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Erdoğan said nearly 70 aircraft, including armed drones, took part in the operation and added that a total of 89 terror targets, including shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels and ammunition depots were destroyed.
“At this point, 45 terrorist targets at a depth of approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) in northern Iraq, and 44 targets at a depth of about 20 kilometers in Syria were hit,” he added.
Asked if Türkiye discussed this operation with Russia and the United States, Erdoğan said: “We have not had any conversations with (U.S. President Joe) Biden or (Russian President Vladimir) Putin regarding this operation. However, both Biden and Putin already know that we can do such things in this region at any time.”
Erdoğan recalled the Sochi deal between Türkiye and Russia to remove YPG/PKK terrorists from northeastern Syria bordering Türkiye.
“They had the responsibility to clear the terrorists from the area. Unfortunately, even though we reminded them many times over and over, they did not do this.
“We said that we would not remain silent against this, and that we would take steps against the terrorists there if they could not do it,” he said.
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Türkiye is with the United States in NATO, Erdoğan also said, noting, however, that Washington has unfortunately sent thousands of equipment, ammunition, and weapons to the terror zones in Syria.
During his talks with Biden in Indonesia, Erdoğan said: “I told him: ‘We are together with you in NATO, we are two important allies. Since such a threat came to us from the south, you are putting us in trouble by giving support to the terrorist organizations here. Of course, we cannot live with these problems. When necessary, we will have to give the necessary answer to them.’ Of course, they can’t say anything. We have done what is necessary at this point, we are doing it, and we will continue to do so.”
The PKK is a designated terrorist organization in the U.S., Türkiye and the European Union and Washington’s support for its Syrian affiliate has been a major strain on bilateral relations with Ankara. The YPG has controlled much of northeastern Syria after the forces of Syrian regime leader Bashar Assad withdrew in 2012. The U.S. primarily partnered with YPG terrorists in northeastern Syria in its fight against the Daesh terrorist group. On the other hand, Türkiye strongly opposed the YPG’s presence in northern Syria.
Under the pretext of fighting Daesh, the U.S. has provided military training and given truckloads of military support to the YPG, despite its NATO ally’s security concerns. Underlining that one cannot support one terrorist group to defeat another, Türkiye conducted its counterterrorism operations, throughout which it has managed to remove a significant number of terrorists from the region.
Türkiye is ready to rid northern Syria’s Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas, near the Turkish border, of terrorist elements in a bid to eliminate the terror threat from the region, President Erdoğan said earlier this year.
“We are taking another step in establishing a 30-kilometer security zone along our southern border. We will clean up Tal Rifaat and Manbij,” he stressed adding that the planned military operations will gradually continue in other parts of northern Syria.
Erdoğan has said as the U.S. and Russia failed to live up to their commitments to provide such a safe zone in the border region. In October 2019, Russia expressed commitment to removing the terrorist group from Tal Rifaat and Manbij after reaching an agreement with Türkiye during Operation Peace Spring. Moscow also promised that the terrorists would be removed 30 kilometers from the border on the M4 road and in the area outside the Operation Peace Spring area. Likewise, then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pledged to Türkiye that the YPG/PKK terrorist group would withdraw from the region of Operation Peace Spring.
Ankara has launched several cross-border operations into Syria since 2016 and controls some territories in the north with the goal of pushing away the YPG/PKK and establishing a 30-kilometer-deep safe zone. Since 2016, Türkiye has launched a trio of successful counterterrorism operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).
Also, the PKK terrorist group often hides out in northern Iraq, just across Türkiye’s southern border, to plot terrorist attacks in the country. The Turkish military regularly conducts cross-border operations in northern Iraq. Türkiye has long been stressing that it will not tolerate terrorist threats posed against its national security and has called on Iraqi officials to take the necessary steps to eliminate the terrorist group. Ankara previously noted that if the expected steps were not taken, it would not shy away from targeting terrorist threats.
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Türkiye tells Greece to mind its place and remember its history, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday about the increasing tension in the Eastern Mediterranean between Greece and Türkiye and Greece’s armament of demilitarized islands in the East Aegean, at the press conference after the G-20 summit in Indonesia.
“Again, I say it against Greece’s behavior that causes such tension. We can arrive suddenly one night. There are officials in Greece who do not know their limits. We tell them to know the diplomacy of the neighboring country. Don’t mess with Türkiye. They can fill the islands with as many guns as they want. None of these will do you any good. Here is Türkiye. Greece has to know its place. They need to remember history,” Erdoğan said.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a number of issues, including competing claims over jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean, overlapping claims over their continental shelves, maritime boundaries, airspace, energy, the ethnically split island of Cyprus, the status of the islands in the Aegean Sea and migrants.
Türkiye, a powerful NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarized under treaties, saying that such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace. Ankara accuses Athens of illegally militarizing Greek islands in the East Aegean and questions Greece’s sovereignty over them. There is also a dispute over the exploitation of mineral resources in the Aegean.
Turkish military drones recently recorded the deployment of Greek armored vehicles on the islands of Lesbos and Samos, which Ankara maintains is in violation of international law. Following the incident, Ankara lodged a protest with the United States and Greece over the unlawful deployment of armored vehicles on Aegean islands with nonmilitary status.
The president also talked about the reaction of Greece to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) becoming an observer member of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
“The decision we made in the Organization of Turkish States regarding Northern Cyprus is valid. We do not need to get permission from any place or country. We will give the necessary response to the countries that approach it negatively,” Erdoğan emphasized.
When asked about Türkiye’s policy in Syria and Iraq, Erdoğan said, “We do not have a problem with the Kurds in northern Iraq or with the Kurds in the south of Syria, just as we do not have a problem with our Kurdish citizens in Türkiye.”
Fight against terrorism In addition, Erdoğan thanked the condolence messages from world leaders for the terrorist attack that killed six people on Istiklal Street in Istanbul on Nov. 13 and drew attention to the fight against terrorism and said: “This vile attack has once again shown the bloody face of terrorism. Those who support the terrorist organization are partners in every blood spilled. No matter who the terrorists hide behind, they will not be able to escape the fate that awaits them. We expect the sincere support of all our friends and allies in Türkiye’s just struggle against terrorism.”
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Missile strike in Poland Erdoğan also made statements about the missile that fell on the Polish border on Tuesday and voiced the need to respect Russia’s statement on reports of a suspected missile attack on Poland and said pointing fingers at Russia would further escalate tensions.
“I need to respect Russia’s statement. In this regard, it is important for us that Russia says, ‘This has nothing to do with us.'”
He added that pointing fingers at Russia after finding out that the missile is not Russian-made will further escalate tensions.
Erdoğan’s remarks came after reports of a suspected missile attack on Poland that killed two people.
Underlining that Türkiye is trying to gather Russia and Ukraine around the same table as soon as possible, Erdoğan also said: “While we are in this effort, it should not be right to use methods of provocation here. For this, the way to peace passes through dialogue. We want to establish peace in the world, and with the effort of this, we will continue to develop our telephone diplomacy with my Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as soon as we return.”
Pointing out that Türkiye and Russia are two neighboring countries, Erdoğan said: “The way to peace is through dialogue. There is no need to find a third partner in the Russia-Ukraine war. Nothing is gained from the war, the important thing is peace.”
Türkiye is one of the most active countries working to ensure a permanent cease-fire between Ukraine and Russia. Its delicately balanced act of assuming a role as a mediator by keeping communication channels with both warring sides open provides a glimmer of hope in diplomatic efforts to find a solution and achieve peace in the Ukraine crisis. With its unique position of having friendly relations with both Russia and Ukraine, Türkiye has won widespread praise for its push to end the war.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Ankara has offered to mediate between the two sides and host peace talks, underlining its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. While Ankara has opposed international sanctions designed to isolate Moscow, it also closed its straits to prevent some Russian vessels from crossing through them.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Wednesday said he believed that a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea that is set to expire this weekend would remain in place.
“I am of the opinion that it will continue. There’s no problem there,” Erdoğan told a press conference at the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
Ukraine is one of the world’s top grain producers, and Russia’s invasion of the country blocked 20 million tonnes of grain in its ports before the United Nations and Türkiye brokered the deal in July.
The pact is due to expire on Nov. 19 and Erdoğan said Ankara is making efforts to extend it by a year.
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Erdoğan said he would speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin as soon as he returned to Türkiye.
“Because the path to peace passes through dialogue,” he said.
A separate agreement brokered by the U.N. and Türkiye also signed in July allows the export of Russian food and fertilizers despite Western sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.
Erdoğan said the export of fertilizers and ammonia “is important.”
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the 17th G-20 summit held in Indonesia’s Bali island on Tuesday, in which he held several face-to-face meetings with world leaders to discuss bilateral ties and global issues.
Term president Indonesia hosted the two-day summit under the theme Recover Together-Recover Stronger, where the G-20 leaders exchanged views in three sessions, namely Food and Energy Security, Health and Digital Transformation.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the world leaders, including Erdoğan, as they arrived at the meeting venue for the first day of the summit. Following the welcoming ceremony, the leaders attended the Food and Energy Security session of the summit.
Speaking at the session, Erdoğan urged the international community to take action to deliver grain to underdeveloped regions in urgent need, especially in Africa.
“As in its action to tackle grain crisis, Türkiye makes a clear contribution to security in its immediate region, especially Europe,” he said.
“The world fertilizer market must also be stabilized quickly. Otherwise, we will face a bigger food crisis next year,” he warned.
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Ahead of the session, Erdoğan had brief chats with various participating leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, China’s Xi Jinping and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ). He also had brief conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Developing cooperation between Ankara and Paris would serve the common interest, Erdoğan underlined during a separate closed-door meeting with Macron.
He also urged the European Union to play its part in the extension of the Black Sea grain deal. Erdoğan’s remarks came at the closed-door meeting with Macron on the sidelines of the summit in Indonesia, Bali, where they discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.
Erdoğan said that the grain corridor started to function again after Türkiye’s intensive efforts, the country’s Communications Directorate said in a statement.
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Greece, the United States and some EU members protect terrorists, including the Gülenist Terrorist Group (FETÖ) members, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in remarks published Saturday.
“Who protects them now? Mainly Greece. They run away to Greece, they run away to Europe. They always fled there. They live in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, England and America.
“And America is hiding this man (FETÖ leader Fetullah Gülen). Who is hiding? (U.S. President Joe) Biden is hiding. They gave them a huge mansion in Pennsylvania, where this man lives. If you ask me where is the center of terrorists, that’s what I’m telling you right now,” Erdoğan told Turkish press members after his visit to Uzbekistan, where he attended the ninth summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).
FETÖ and its U.S.-based leader Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup in Türkiye on July 15, 2016, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 wounded. FETO was also behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
An unknown number of Gülenists, mostly high-ranking figures, fled Türkiye when the coup attempt was thwarted. A large number of Gülenists had already left the country prior to the coup attempt after Turkish prosecutors launched investigations into other crimes of the terrorist group. Despite Türkiye’s extradition requests and bilateral legal agreements, many FETÖ members still freely enjoy their lives in different countries around the world. In the aftermath of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, Türkiye has sped up extradition processes for members of FETÖ abroad.
The U.S., where FETÖ’s fugitive head Gülen resides, is the target of most extradition requests. Türkiye has sent several extradition requests for Gülen to Washington so far, but unfortunately, has seen little progress in his extradition. Gülen, who arrived in the U.S. in 1999, currently lives in a luxurious retreat in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, in self-imposed exile. He never leaves the well-guarded compound but often gives interviews with foreign media. Ankara formally requested Gülen’s extradition on July 19, 2016, and has been pressing the U.S. ever since, sending hundreds of folders full of evidence implicating Gülen and FETÖ in the coup attempt. The issue has been raised in bilateral meetings between Turkish and American officials in phone calls, letters and other exchanges.
Asked about Greece’s situation after the recent defense talks between Türkiye and the United States, Erdoğan said: “Of course, at the moment, Greece is seriously disturbed by these latest steps.”
Earlier this week, the Türkiye-U.S. High-Level Defense Group meeting was held in the Turkish capital Ankara, where regional and global defense and security issues were discussed.
“Of course, we are disturbed by the attitudes of the West, and especially the U.S., in Greece. Alexandroupolis is one of them. Apart from this, there are some disturbances that Greece inflicts on us in the fight against terrorism. Especially, this Lavrion Camp issue is not something that we can stomach,” Erdoğan said.
Greece has long been accused of being a favorite hideout for terrorists from the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP-C) and PKK. Those fleeing Türkiye have taken shelter in refugee camps in Lavrion near Athens under the guise of being asylum-seekers, especially in the 1980s. Despite the closure of Lavrion in 2013 amid pressure from Türkiye, Greece continues to be the primary destination for DHKP-C terrorists.
Footage from the camp shows that it has turned into a base for PKK terrorists. The camp scene resembles a terrorist base, with terrorist symbols and pictures of its imprisoned ringleader Abdullah Öcalan adorning its walls.
The president has repeatedly warned Greece also about the militarization of the islands, in violation of longstanding international treaties, saying: “We may come suddenly one night,” without giving a timeframe.
Türkiye and Greece are at odds over a number of issues, including competing claims over jurisdiction in the Eastern Mediterranean, overlapping claims over their continental shelves, maritime boundaries, airspace, energy, the ethnically split island of Cyprus, the status of the islands in the Aegean Sea and migrants.
Türkiye, a NATO member for over 70 years, has complained of repeated provocative actions and rhetoric by Greece in the region in recent months, including arming islands near Turkish shores that are demilitarized under treaties, saying that such moves frustrate its good faith efforts for peace. Ankara accuses Athens of illegally militarizing Greek islands in the East Aegean and questions Greece’s sovereignty over them. There is also a dispute over the exploitation of mineral resources in the Aegean.
Turkish military drones recently recorded the deployment of Greek armored vehicles on the islands of Lesbos and Samos, which Ankara maintains is in violation of international law. Following the incident, Ankara lodged a protest with the United States and Greece over the unlawful deployment of armored vehicles on Aegean islands with nonmilitary status.
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Türkiye summoned the Greek ambassador and called for an end to violations on Aegean islands and restoring their nonmilitary status, according to the Foreign Ministry. In the note, the ministry stated that the deployment was another violation of Greece’s obligations under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris. These islands were required to be demilitarized under the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and the 1947 Treaty of Paris, so any troops or weapons on the islands are strictly forbidden.
Also, Türkiye has ramped up the criticism of its NATO ally United States for abandoning a balanced policy and escalating tensions on the issues of Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean, reiterating that it will protect its rights and interests against the Greek side.
Efforts to introduce Turkish Cyprus to world About the admission of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to the Organization of Turkic States as an observer member, Erdoğan said: “We showed that the Turkish Cypriots, who are an integral part of the Turkic world, are not alone.”
Erdoğan added that it would be wrong to consider this as a “recognition.”
“It means that the speech we made at the United Nations General Assembly gave a voice. … We need to create a spiral about introducing Northern Cyprus to the world as a state,” he added.
Erdoğan said the TRNC case is not as easy as the recognition of Kosovo, adding: “But we will do our best. We’re going to get to work. I believe that we will have the opportunity to introduce Northern Cyprus to the world.”
Cyprus has been mired in a decadeslong dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the U.N. to achieve a comprehensive settlement.
Ethnic attacks starting in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into enclaves for their safety.
In 1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aimed at Greece’s annexation led to Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a result, the TRNC was founded in 1983.
It has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including a failed 2017 initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom.
The Greek Cypriot administration entered the European Union in 2004, the same year Greek Cypriots thwarted the U.N. Annan Plan to end the longstanding dispute.
Today, the Turkish side supports a solution based on the equal sovereignty of the two states on the island. On the other hand, the Greek side wants a federal solution based on the hegemony of the Greeks.
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Sweden on Thursday highlighted the need for more talks with Türkiye on its NATO membership bid, shortly after the Swedish prime minister visited Ankara and held meetings with Turkish officials.
“Personally, I think that the prime minister of Sweden’s visits to Ankara showed that there is still plenty of room for dialogue, a dialogue which is now underway and ongoing,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said during a joint news conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Berlin.
“And that has to be done on all levels, the highest level with the Prime Minister meeting with President (Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan, and the second level that would be me, I will shortly go to Ankara this autumn to continue discussions with my counterparts there,” he added.
Billstrom also pointed to ongoing talks among Sweden, Finland and Türkiye on the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding, to address Ankara’s expectations from the two countries.
“When all conditions laid down in the memorandum have been fulfilled, the Turkish Parliament will be ready to ratify,” he said.
Billstrom made clear that Sweden is “working diligently toward a quick and seamless entry into NATO, where legal, political, organizational and other conditions are necessary for our membership.”
“I think the discussions are continuing in a very positive way. Sweden is preparing its own ratification, which concludes the Accession Protocol, and confirms Sweden as a NATO ally, and when all 30 NATO allies ratify, Sweden will be ready,” he said.
Türkiye expects to see Sweden alleviate Ankara’s concerns about terrorism under the tripartite memorandum, Erdoğan said Tuesday, urging Stockholm for more concrete steps.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the Turkish capital Ankara, Erdoğan said his country is pleased that the new Swedish government said it will comply with the tripartite memorandum signed in Madrid.
“Sweden wants NATO membership for its own security, and Türkiye wants to see a Sweden that supports the alleviation of Ankara’s security concerns,” he added.
PKK, its Syrian branch YPG, the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) and the DHKP-C terrorist groups “must be prevented from exploiting Sweden’s democratic environment,” he also said, noting that PKK terrorists should not be allowed to protest with their organization’s rags in Sweden.
It is “important” that members of FETO, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Türkiye, are extradited from Sweden, the president said, urging for more action on the matter.
Kristersson, for his part, said his country will “fully implement the tripartite memorandum” signed in June between Sweden, Türkiye and Finland.
Stockholm understands that Ankara is engaging in a fight against the PKK terrorist group and wants to help with that fight, the prime minister said, underlining that he had a “positive” meeting with Erdoğan.
“We will take great steps toward the end of this year and at the beginning of next year, especially in the field of anti-terror legislation,” he said, adding that his country will take any threat against Sweden and Türkiye “seriously.”
He also noted that there is “great potential in our relationship with Türkiye” and said the two countries “can do a lot in trade and tourism.”
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The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the European Union and the United States, and is responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
The trilateral agreement that Türkiye, Sweden and Finland signed in June stipulates that Finland and Sweden will not provide support to the YPG and FETÖ. The deal also said Ankara extends full support to Finland and Sweden against threats to their national security.
All 30 standing NATO allies need to approve any expansion of the bloc.
Sweden’s parliament will vote on Nov. 16 on a draft bill to tighten counterterrorism laws, according to a statement Tuesday.
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The Council of State had during the meeting urged the CBN to make the new naira notes available alongside the old notes in order to address the tension created by…
pledged to preserve the legacy of the republic’s founder Life came to a standstill across Türkiye on Thursday as millions observed a minute of silence at 9:05 a.m., the minute Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye, died. People paid their respects to the revered figure while ceremonies were held across the country to commemorate the first president of modern Türkiye who shaped the country after commanding a war of independence in the aftermath of World War I.
Central to the commemorations was Anıtkabir, Atatürk’s mausoleum in the capital Ankara, where other dignitaries and politicians join the country’s incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a wreath-laying ceremony. Smaller ceremonies were held elsewhere while people streamed into Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, where Atatürk died on Nov. 10, 1938.
Children visit the room where Atatürk died at Dolmabahçe Palace, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 10, 2022. (AA Photo) Children visit the room where Atatürk died at Dolmabahçe Palace, in Istanbul, Türkiye, Nov. 10, 2022. (AA Photo) Writing in a memorial book at Anıtkabir, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said: “We remember you and fellow heroes, martyrs who gave their lives for our independence, on the 84th anniversary of your death. Through our ‘Century of Türkiye’ vision and as 85 million citizens, we are working to prepare the Republic of Türkiye you described as your greatest work for a future where (the Republic) is more stronger, more prestigious. We will not stop until making our nation’s century-old dreams reality, will not be daunted by attacks and resolutely continue our struggle. May your soul be blessed.”
Born in 1881 in Thessaloniki, Mustafa Kemal, as he was known before he was given the unique surname which translates as “Father of Turks,” died of cirrhosis, 15 years after the foundation of the republic. He started a brilliant military career in the early 20th century and served on multiple fronts during the Ottoman Empire’s eventful last years, from Libya to the Balkans. While serving in Sofia as a military attache after years on the battlefield, he sought reassignment to fieldwork. In 1915, he was appointed as a division commander and proved his military mettle as a commander during World War I. He was nicknamed the “Hero of Anafartalar” after a decisive battle on the western front, in Gallipoli. This feat later brought him wider recognition as a skilled commander and a trusted figure as he sought to rally the nation for independence in the aftermath of World War I. It was also his first brush with death, when a piece of shrapnel hit him in the chest, only to be stopped by a pocket watch he kept in his pocket.
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His next mission was on the eastern front in 1916, where he managed to stop the Russian incursion and reclaimed the eastern provinces Bitlis and Muş from invading forces, a feat that helped his promotion to the rank of general. In the next two years, he served in Palestine and Syria as commander of the Seventh Army. After the war ended, he returned to Istanbul, the then capital of the Ottoman Empire. His return was at a time of invading forces’ occupation of Istanbul, where he worked secretly to organize a nationwide resistance. He found an opportunity to serve this purpose when he left the city as an “army inspector” under the guise of inspecting Ottoman troops scattered across the country. His arrival in the northern province of Samsun on May 19, 1919, is today viewed as the first step toward independence in post-war Türkiye. Once he drummed up the support of fellow commanders and the public during his travels across Anatolia, Atatürk started organizing a formal opposition to invading Allied forces, through conventions in eastern and central Turkish cities. Conventions and congresses paved the way for the foundation of a temporary government independent of the seat of the Ottoman Empire, then in its death throes and a new Parliament strictly opposing any foreign mandate. In 1920, he spearheaded the foundation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and was elected as its president, as well as head of interim government.
Under his leadership, a ragtag army, with broad public support, was formed and showed the world that a new country was rising among the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. Victories in central and western Türkiye against invading Greek forces in defensive battles in 1921 cemented trust in Atatürk and soon, he was granted the rank of Marshal. In 1922, the army launched the Great Offensive, the first counterattack against invaders. Months after a decisive victory against the Greek army, a cease-fire agreement was signed with Allied forces, paving the way for their withdrawal from Turkish territories. The Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923 officially marked the end of the conflict between invading forces and Türkiye. A few months after it was signed, Atatürk pronounced the formation of the Republic of Türkiye and he was elected as its first president. He remained in this post until his death, being elected successive four times to the presidency.
After the foundation of the republic, Atatürk devoted his life to the reconstruction of a war-torn country, which was also tested by a global economic crisis, while establishing ties with the international community Türkiye once fought. His diplomatic and economic efforts made Türkiye an emerging country with a say in international affairs. On the domestic front, Atatürk is credited with revolutionary changes, including a switch to a new alphabet, a new education system and economic reforms.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he will be traveling to Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Bahrain, and Qatar this month.
Speaking at a news conference following a cabinet meeting in the capital Ankara, Erdoğan said that he will visit Samarkand, Uzbekistan for a summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on Thursday and Friday.
The OTS, formerly called the Turkic Council or the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, is an international organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries that work together to elevate relations and the union among themselves.
Türkiye has prioritized the sovereignty, stability and welfare of Turkic states in Central Asia since the 1990s, Ambassador Mercan said while addressing the event.
The OTS originally emerged as a summit between the heads of Turkic states in 1991 and eventually became an international council in 2009, holding over 10 summits so far.
Erdoğan will then head to Bali, Indonesia the following Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 15-16, for a G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Chinese and U.S. presidents, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, respectively, are also expected to attend a G20 summit in Bali.
After the summit, he will visit the Gulf nation of Bahrain, and on Nov. 20, he will head to its neighbor Qatar, he added.
Last month, Türkiye and Qatar inked 11 new cooperation deals in the eighth meeting of the Supreme Strategic Committee in Istanbul.
Türkiye and Qatar established the Supreme Strategic Committee in 2014 as a mechanism for high-level dialogue and bilateral cooperation.
Ankara and Doha enjoy strong relations, particularly since the 2017 blockade of the Gulf country by Saudi Arabia and others. The two countries have strengthened military and economic ties in recent years. The sixth meeting of the Türkiye-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee was held in 2020 in the Turkish capital Ankara. Ten agreements were signed between the two countries in the presence of the two leaders. Within the framework of the Supreme Strategic Committee meetings, a total of 68 agreements and protocols were signed between the two countries previously.
Turkish-Qatari relations are also witnessing growing and continuous cooperation at various levels, with high coordination on many regional and international issues, including the Libyan crisis and Afghanistan. In addition to bilateral trade and diplomatic relations, the two countries played a pivotal role in supporting the legitimate Libyan government and defending Tripoli against putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar’s forces in a 14-month offensive. They also cooperated to reopen Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport after the Taliban took over following the government’s fall and the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
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Uzodimma said: “With the death of Obiozor, the entire South East has lost a consummate and compassionate leader, whose inclusive, insightful, decisive and innovative style was beginning to bear enormous…
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday denounced the view that Europe is a “garden” and the rest of the world is “wild.”
Speaking at the MÜSIAD Expo 2022 in Istanbul, Erdoğan said: “We do not expect those who carry out colonialism using new ways and methods to have a conscientious attitude towards crises.”
The president was referring to the recent comments by European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who called Europe “a garden” and most of the world a “jungle” that “could invade the garden” during a speech in October.
“The gardeners should take care of the garden, but they will not protect the garden by building walls. A nice small garden surrounded by high walls in order to prevent the jungle coming in is not going to be a solution. Because the jungle has a strong growth capacity, and the wall will never be high enough,” said Borrell, a Spanish politician.
“The gardeners have to go to the jungle. Europeans have to be much more engaged with the rest of the world. Otherwise, the rest of the world will invade us,” he said.
At a later press conference, Borrell denied that his message was racist or colonialist, news agency EFE reported. The comments were intended to reject the idea of “fortress Europe” and to encourage students to engage with the world, he said.
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