Turkey

European Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle said on Monday that the European Union is “deeply concerned” about the demolition of a monument in Turkey’s eastern province of Kars as he said that it is the only statue dedicated to the struggle of peace between Armenia and Turkey.

The European Union will no longer play a key role in Turkey’s post-election reform efforts because there is no clear perspective on Turkish accession into the 27-nation bloc, Turkey’s ambassador Selim Kuneralp to the EU said.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul will be in Bulgaria July 03 on an official two-day visit. This will be the first official visit of a Turkish head of state to the country. The visit will be used to discuss opportunities for boosting bilateral cooperation and the implementation of joint projects in …

Turkey is to establish a European Union ministry after June 12 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday. “The ministry of the EU will coordinate the affairs for Turkey’s EU bid,” Erdogan said in his televised remarks at his party’s headquarters in Ankara. 

The Nabucco agreement will be signed by all countries involved in the project in the Turkish town of Kayseri. With the document the countries undertake the engagement to support the construction of the pipeline, which will transit natural gas from the Caspian region and the Middle East through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania,

Turkish President Abdullah Gül has said that Turkey’s accession to the European Union is a strategic imperative for the European integration project, which he said will no doubt increase the 27-nation bloc’s efficiency, relevance and credibility.

Turkey says it opposes the candidacy of Austria’s former foreign minister to become the next secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Turkey’s foreign ministry said Saturday it can’t support Ursula Plassnik because she opposes Turkey’s bid to become a full member of the European Union. …

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said he sees positive signs of a breakthrough in a dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia, welcoming Azerbaijan’s “determined and optimistic” position on the conflict.

Turkey and Georgia took their visa-free travel policy a step further on Monday, initiating a passport-free travel regime under which their nationals will be able to visit each other’s country with national identity cards alone.

Former Italian Prime Minister and Interior Minister Giuliano Amato has said that Turkey should be treated fairly and given a roadmap by the European Union toward visa-free travel to Europe.