Turkey

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan said Monday that he was still hopeful about a peace deal with the Turkish state, but argued that Ankara needed to shift the process into a new gear.

France’s Industry and Development Minister Arnaud Montebourg, who paid an official visit in Turkey between October 9-12, announced that French President Francois Hollande would visit Turkey in the shortest time possible.

Turkish Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz has said that Turkey’s missile deal with China will not create any problems between Turkey and the US, citing statements made by United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Thursday, while Republicans in the US Senate have reportedly urged the US administration to pressure …

Turkey will continue its efforts for PKK militants’ leaving the country’s territory, Deputy Prime Minister Beshir Atalay said. According to him, the militants’ leaving the country is currently the priority for Ankara.

If Azerbaijan joins the Eurasian Customs Union, it will most likely be jointly with Turkey, deputy chairman of the Inter-Commission Working Group on International Cooperation and Public Diplomacy of the Public Chamber of Russia, Sergei Markov told journalists in Baku on Thursday.

Turkey’s parliament on Thursday extended for one year a mandate that would allow Ankara to order military strikes against Kurdish rebels holed up in neighbouring northern Iraq. The vote coincides with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s reforms to boost the rights of the country’s sizeable Kurdish community and secure an end to …

Representatives of Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus will visit Athens and Ankara in a couple of weeks, the first time in nearly 50 years. So that, psychological barriers will be crossed, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said. Citing that negotiators of theGreek and Turkish Cypriots had a preparatory meeting on Oct. 9, leaders of Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus will …

Turkey and Ukraine announced on Wednesday they have agreed in principle to exempt the citizens of each other from the visa procedures for 60 days. The announcement was made in a joint press conference here by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych here.

The Foreign Ministry in a written statement has reiterated its desire for political stability in Egypt, calling for dialogue in the country for a quick return to democratic order after bloody clashes in Egyptian cities on Oct. 6. Monday’s statement by the Foreign Ministry said Turkey desires real dialogue among …

Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu Tuesday rejected Syrian claims that Ankara was supporting armed groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda, and allowing them to use Turkish territories to launch attacks on the Syrian regime. “Turkey has never provided any kind of support for these groups, and we do not allow our borders …