ANKARA, Turkey At least four people died and three others are missing in flooding along Turkey’s Black Sea coast, caused by days of torrential rain. According to media reports Wednesday (July 15th), two people died in the Artvin province after their house was destroyed by rising water. Two others — …
Read More »Turkey’s Gul calls for Cyprus referendum this year
ANKARA, Turkey President Abdullah Gul said on Monday (July 13th) that Turkey wants to see Cypriot reunification talks concluded soon and a referendum held by the end of the year, media reported. “Our ultimate goal is to reach a lasting settlement on the island and to create a separate area …
Read More »Turkey Calls For Referendum In Cyprus By End-2009
Turkey wants talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus to conclude soon and a referendum by the end of 2009, President Abdullah Gul told a news conference with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Monday. The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974. The two sides …
Read More »PM Sergey Stanishev: Pace of work on Nabucco should not be slowed down
ANKARA Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev determined the signing of the Nabucco agreement in Ankara an important step forward, government’s press office reports.
Read More »Turkey reacts to China unrest
ANKARA, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday (July 8th) he will ask the UN Security Council to discuss ways to stop clashes in China. Beijing reacted to Erdogan’s statement on Thursday saying it is a domestic issue. “This is purely China’s internal affair and doesn’t demand a …
Read More »Turkey’s Gul approves law despite military’s objections
ANKARA, Turkey President Abdullah Gul approved a controversial new measure Wednesday (July 8th) that allows civilian courts to prosecute military officers for some crimes. Gul, however, demanded that some regulations be implemented that would “dispel worries” among the military.
Read More »Russian patriarch backs Halki Seminary re-opening
NKARA, Turkey Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill called on Turkish authorities on Monday (July 6th) to re-open the Greek Orthodox Seminary on the island of Heybeliada (Halki in Greek), in a bid to strengthen religious freedoms and minority rights. His comment followed talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey.
Read More »Turkey Pledges to Lobby for Kosovo Recognition
Turkey will continue to support Kosovo’s independence, its speaker of parliament, Koksal Toptan, said in Pristina on Monday. Toptan arrived in the city on Sunday on his first visit to Kosovo. During a meeting with his counterpart, Jakup Krasniqi, the Turkish speaker said Ankara was undertaking various initiatives to lobby …
Read More »Turkish Army opposes controversial law
ANKARA, Turkey The army has submitted a list of objections to President Abdullah Gul regarding a controversial law that limits the power of military courts, local newspapers reported on Sunday (July 5th). Parliament adopted the bill late last month at the request of the ruling Justice and Development Party.
Read More »Talat expects reunification plan
NICOSIA, Cyprus The two Cypriot communities will draft a plan to reunify the divided island by the end of the year, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Sunday (July 5th) in an interview with the Greek Cypriot daily Simerini. Talat, however, predicted international arbitration will be required.
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