Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay says Turkey plans to re-open the Greek Orthodox Seminary on the island of Heybeliada — Halki in Greek — off Istanbul, nearly four decades after it was shut down. He said on Sunday (June 28th) “The seminary does not currently fit into our university …

NICOSIA, Cyprus Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed Friday (June 26th) to open a new crossing point between the Greek and Turkish-run parts of the divided island. It will be located near the village of Limnitis (Yesilirmak in Turkish).

BRUSSELS. Belgium Turkey is determined to push ahead with legal and political reforms to meet conditions for joining the EU as a full member, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday (June 26th) after talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels.

NICOSIA, Cyprus There is a historic chance to resolve the Cypriot issue, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a press conference Thursday (June 25th), as he wrapped up a daylong visit to Nicosia. “We [the EU] will not find a solution, but we can help and support efforts to …

ANKARA, Turkey Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug said on Monday (June 22nd) the only solution in the fight against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is to dissolve it and make it lay down its weapons.

ATHENS, Greece Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis expressed concern Monday (June 22nd) about the growing number of violations in Greek air space over the Aegean Sea by Turkish military aircrafts. These incidents threaten to significantly raise tensions in bilateral relations, she warned.

ANKARA, Turkey Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday (June 22nd) criticised unspecified EU member states for using Turkey’s membership bid for domestic politics, media reported. Speaking at a luncheon for the EU ambassadors to Ankara, Erdogan said it is “absolutely wrong” to exploit Turkey’s accession process.

NICOSIA, Cyprus Turkish Cypriot Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun said on Friday (June 19th) his government may consider other options if the ongoing reunification talks with Greek Cypriots fail. His statement followed a meeting with UN special envoy for Cyprus Alexander Downer in Nicosia.

BERLIN, Germany Turkey is not ready to make any concessions in its EU membership negotiations, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday (June 16th), after talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin.

NICOSIA, Cyprus The Cypriot government has asked the UN and EU to halt a military exercise in the northeastern, Turkish part of the island, government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said Tuesday (June 16th).