The European Union has warned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to cease his interference in a major corruption probe into high-ranking officials.

Turkey’s main opposition leader has raised the pressure on the government over the massive graft probe in which ministers’ sons have been arrested, claiming that the government has lost its legitimacy since the prime minister is protecting the figures who are involved in corruption.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threw down the gauntlet to his rivals, including “spies” and “traitors” Dec. 22, warning them against using allegations of high-level corruption to undermine his rule or he would “break their hands.” 

The police in Turkey’s Istanbul fired rubber bullets, tear gas andwater cannon to disperse more than 10,000 anti-government protesters on Sunday. An eyewitness said five people were injured and one had a heart attack during thedemonstration supported by more than 200 political parties, associations and platforms inthe country.

Turkey and Moldova have agreed to speed up ties in order to create a strategic partnership and a free trade agreement, TurkishPresident Abdullah Gül said yesterday, after he met with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti.

On Dec. 18 the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov received the head of the General Plan and Principles Department of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Staff, Lieutenant General Alpaslan Erdogan.

The EU has set January 21 as the starting date for membership talks with Serbia.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin has reiterated his country’s support for the EU integration efforts of the Western Balkan countries and Turkey.

Azerbaijan and France held consultations on bilateral military cooperation in Baku on December 17.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will today officially present to the Council of Ministers her report on Serbia’s implementation of the Brussels agreement.