Turkey

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).

NICOSIA, Cyprus Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat discussed the territory issue and the opening of a new crossing point in Limnitis on Monday (June 15th). Another meeting is scheduled for June 26th.

NICOSIA, Cyprus The two Cypriot communities are close to reaching an agreement on a new border crossing between the Greek and Turkish-run parts of the divided island, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias said on Thursday (June 11th) after his latest round of reunification talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

ANKARA, Turkey Turkey and Iraq signed a military co-operation agreement Wednesday (June 10th), further boosting efforts against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Deputy Chief of the Iraqi Army General Staff, Nasier Abadi, and his Turkish counterpart, Hassan Igsiz, signed the agreement in Ankara.

ANKARA, Turkey The prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday (June 9th) it has asked the justice ministry to dismiss a fraud case against President Abdullah Gul, over missing party funds, media reported.

YEREVAN, Armenia US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon urged Armenia and Turkey on Tuesday (June 9th) to make progress in ongoing talks aimed at normalising relations and re-opening their border. Reconciliation negotiations should be concluded within “a reasonable time frame,” he told reporters during a visit to Yerevan. Ankara …

PRISTINA, Kosovo As of Saturday (June 6th), Turkey lifted its visa regime for Kosovo citizens holding newer passports, not those with older ones issued by UNMIK. Foreign ministry officials say it reflects a new phase of bilateral co-operation.