Turkey

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated his support for the Turkish government’s Kurdish initiative during a speech at the “Mothers against Terrorism” conference in Istanbul on Tuesday afternoon. While discussing the fight against terrorism he made positive remarks about the “democratic opening” in Turkey, calling it a “great …

Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou urged Turkey on Monday to withdraw its troops from Cyprus to help ongoing talks aimed at reunifying the divided island. The long-festering dispute on the eastern Mediterranean island has poisoned relations between Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, undermining alliance and European Union cooperation on …

In its efforts to normalize relations with Armenia, Turkey does not have in mind its European Union accession bid but peace in the region, said President Abdullah Gül in an interview with a French magazine. Peace in the region will bring development and prosperity in return, he believes In an …

Turkey, Italy and Russia are set to sign a MoU on Samsun-Ceyhan petroleum pipeline. Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız arrived Monday in Milano where he will be signing the MoU on behalf of Turkey. Yıldız was welcomed by Italian Economy Minister Claudio Scajola and Russian Deputy Premier Igor Ivanovich Sechin.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov is paying an official visit to Turkey, media reported. Ivanov will meet today in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ivanov today will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan said Monday he would visit Turkey to attend a football match this week between the two neighbors who have signed a peace accord after a century of hostility. Sarksyan said he had accepted an invitation by his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul, to watch Turkey play Armenia …

Bulgaria voiced it support on Friday to the ongoing efforts aimed at reunifying divided Cyprus in a joint declaration signed here during Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov’s visit. “The Republic of Bulgaria expresses its support to the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation …

Turkey and Armenia plan to sign a deal to end a century of hostility stemming from the World War One mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman forces although it could fall prey to nationalists further down the line. An accord would boost U.S. ally Turkey’s diplomatic clout in the volatile …

The European Commission said Friday it has appointed an envoy to assist in the U.N.-brokered Cyprus reunification talks aimed at ending 35 years of division on the island. “The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has decided to detach Leopold Maurer as his personal representative to the Good …

The informal meeting of foreign ministers of South-East European Cooperation Process will begin in Istanbul on Friday. The informal meeting of foreign ministers of South-East European Cooperation Process will begin in Istanbul on Friday. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will host the two-day meeting. Foreign Ministers and deputy prime ministers …